Get to Know Council Member Mat deGraaf
Mat has lived in Pagosa Springs for 16 years and chose to serve on Town Council because he likes to be involved. He says his job at the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District helps him in his leadership role on Council. Get to know Mat better through our Q&A below.
What’s your favorite thing to do/place to go in Pagosa Springs?
I love to be outside. Reservoir Hill Park is an amazing place right in the heart of downtown. Just a short walk from my house, the dog and I can disappear on the trails and in the pines of this incredible park. I also love to soak in the hot springs…a lot.
Why did you choose to run for Town Council?
I ran for Town Council because I like to be involved. I have a vision of what I would like this Town to look like 20 years from now. It is a place with a thriving and diverse community where people across the socioeconomic spectrum are able to make ends meet while feeling valued and appreciated.
What upcoming Town projects or initiatives are you excited to work on?
While not terribly exciting, I feel it is imperative that the Town focuses on the Pagosa Springs Sanitation General Improvement District (PSSGID) wastewater and geothermal systems. Both have been sadly underfunded and ignored for too long. Bringing them up to snuff is expensive and painful, but it needs to be done.
What Town project or initiative have you been a part of as a member of Council that you’re most proud of? Why?
Short-term Rental Regulation. Across the state, we’ve seen the impacts STRs can have on a community, and I want to make sure that THIS community keeps the interests of locals at the forefront and remains a place for everyone.
How does your professional work or personal experience/background help inform or influence your duties on Town Council?
For my real job, I am part of the team at Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) that makes drinking water available to our entire community. I take pride in serving the public in this way. I try to bring that same sense of pride and humility to my work on the Town Council. Instead of looking out for the physical health and safety of the people I serve water to, like I do at PAWSD, I’m looking out for the long-term health of the local government and the people it serves.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
Though I’ve been here for 16 years, I still don’t really consider myself a local. I moved here for the mountains. The multigenerational families that make up the beautiful and diverse tapestry of this community are the ones that I’m most impressed by. I hope that the small part I’m playing in local government is doing right by them.
JUST FOR FUN!...
What was the last book you read?
“Cold New World - growing up in a harder country” by William Finnegan
What does your ideal vacation look like?
I feel I live in paradise, and my typical weekends spent here in my own backyard are most people’s dream vacations.
What’s your favorite snack food or dessert?
I’ll never turn down an Apple Pie.