Rep. Joe Neguse makes final appearance before Loveland City Council

Calling him an “inspirational leader,” Mayor Jacki Marsh told U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse on Tuesday that he will be missed in Loveland both by city officials and the numerous citizens and community groups that he has assisted since he took office in 2019.

“It is unbelievable how much you have gotten done in the short time you have been one of our elected leaders,” she told Neguse, who was appearing remotely at the City Council meeting. “… From big and small, to fire mitigation, to COVID, you have been amazing and I am absolutely saddened to lose you as our official representative.”

Neguse, a Democrat, represented the Loveland area in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District between 2019 and 2022, but due to the state’s 2021 redistricting process, the city is now in the 4th District, which is represented by Republican Ken Buck.

Neguse told council that he is “sad to lose” Loveland and its residents, but it has been “a pleasure and a privilege” to serve in the area, and work with city officials on issues such as wildfire mitigation and flood recovery. Neguse’s office also secured a $1 million grant for the city to be put toward renovation of the Pulliam Community Building.

“I’m very proud of the work we’ve been able to do, and the collaborative relationship that our office has been able to develop with the city of Loveland over the course of the last several years,” he said.

The congressman also took time to acknowledge the “terrible loss” of state house representative Hugh McKean, who he called “ friend.”

“(He is) someone who I had the privilege of working with whom I found to be a really kind and generous leader and who I miss dearly and I know the community of Loveland misses him as well,” he said.

Looking ahead, Neguse told council that his office is working closely with Rep. Buck’s on the transition so that ongoing matters raised by Loveland constituents will continue to receive attention.

The congressman also noted that he will still be serving much of Larimer County, and will continue to have a hand in local issues that impact Loveland, such as the Northern Colorado Regional Airport, Interstate 25 construction, and ongoing wildfire “resilience.”

“Our door is always open,” he said. “…I guess my only request is that you’ll continue to let us know if there are ways that we can assist.”

“And we intend to crash the party for the Pulliam Community Building once that is reopened,” he joked.

Joking aside, he also agreed to help the city with a request to expedite the Pulliam grant, which has been processing over the past year.

Neguse’s appearance ended with comments by Marsh and Councilors Andrea Samson and Richard Ball, who both echoed the mayor’s comments about the congressman’s “incredible” tenure in Loveland.