Western Slope politicians Doug Atchley, Judy Ann Files and Rick Taggart all found a second calling after their professional careers ended—public service. Although each took a distinct path to public office, the three are tied by a common thread: a commitment to serve the public.

The community banker

As a senior at Colorado State University in 1970, Atchley had a plan. He’d spent his college summers and weekends working at a Fort Collins bank and was about to graduate with a degree in agriculture industries management. Then he planned to return home to Delta to begin the next chapter of his life.

He lined up a job in finance at the local community bank, National Bank of Delta. Throughout the week, he loaned capital to people with dreams and shared in their blessings.

“Part of being a community banker is that you serve your community,” said Atchley, who is now in his late 60s. “If your community does well, your bank does well.”

By 1981, he was the president of National Bank of Delta. By the end of his tenure, five regional Wells Fargo banks reported to him. But after 36 years there, it was time to look to the future.

“I had always been involved with economic development, and I wanted to continue to serve the community from government.” -Doug Atchley

Judy Ann Files found she could effect more change from within.

The schoolteacher

Files was born in Montrose in the mid ’40s. It had been her family home for 137 years, but her family relocated several times when she was a child, and Files eventually landed in Grande Junction in 1956. She graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1963 and met her future husband at Mesa College. The young couple went on to Gunnison’s Western State College, then embarked on careers as public school teachers.

When Files was 24, she began working for the Montrose public school district. In her free time, she volunteered in the community. She first considered running for city council in the 1970s, while volunteering for the City of Montrose.

“At that time, the general feeling was that the city was run by downtown businessmen. I was a woman who didn’t run a downtown business and was told that the community would not support [me]. A lot of things have changed in 50 years,” said Files, 72.

The CEO

Taggart hails from upstate New York. After earning his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University, he took his first job at the Salomon Ski Company and quickly rose through the ranks, soon becoming the general manager of Canadian operations.

After a savvy family investment, Taggart became involved with the Grand Junction-based outdoor outfitter, Marmot, and moved to the Grand Valley in the early ’80s. He led Marmot for many years as its CEO and chairman, and the brand grew to an internationally respected juggernaut—on par with companies like The North Face and Patagonia—before it was acquired. After the acquisition, Taggart stayed on with the new parent company in a lesser role, until the opportunity to lead another international brand emerged.

“I wanted to give back to the community I dearly love, and that is when I decided to run for council.” -Rick Taggart

He was recruited as CEO of Victorinox, the company behind Swiss Army knives. After 15 years of international travel for work, it was time to head back home to Colorado’s Western Slope, where his future was waiting.

Giving back to the community

Taggart, 67, took on a senior leadership role in Colorado Mesa University’s Marketing Office. He still teaches business classes there part time, but found that he had the desire to serve Grand Junction in other capacities.

Taggart teaches a business class at Colorado Mesa University. Photo courtesy of CMU.

“I wanted to give back to the community I dearly loveI decided to run for council,” he said. He won a seat on the Grand Junction City Council in 2015, and was re-elected to four more years last April. The council elected him as mayor in May.

Taggart said he’s pleased with infrastructure improvements being made in Grand Junction and is excited about the future.

He’s enthusiastic about an emerging partnership that will refurbish Two Rivers Convention Center, adding a hotel and mini ballroom to the complex. Taggart said the private-public partnership behind the project is one of the first of its kind, and will open doors for the city in the future.

He’s particularly looking forward to strengthening the local trail system for residents and visitors alike.

“Outdoor opportunities are one of our greatest assets, and they’re going to play a major role in this city’s future,” he said.

Effecting change

In 2011, Files grew concerned with the direction that Montrose was heading in and began attending city council meetings, only to realize she couldn’t effect much change from the outside. So the shy woman, then in her mid 60s, ran for a council seat and was elected in 2012.

“I want the Montrose community to be the best it can be for the people who live here,” she said. “I’ve focused on the things that we can do to accomplish that life for our people.”

Her fellow council members elected her mayor shortly thereafter. Re-elected in April, Files is now serving her second term in that office.

“I want the Montrose community to be the best it can be for the people who live here.” -Judy Ann Files

Files credits the teamwork of the city’s employees and community partners for the accomplishments the town has seen during her tenure, which include the creation of the community recreation center and water sports park, and receiving the All-America City award, which recognizes communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges.

“In these 5 1/2 years, council has developed into a team,” Files said. “Not only are we a team within council, but we are a team with staff. We’re all in this together.”

She has been instrumental in bringing Elevate, the super-fast broadband service, to the city, and in improving many facets of life in Montrose.

“One thing that’s changed a lot since I’ve been on council is how much more developer- and business-friendly we are,” she said. “If someone comes forward with an idea for a business, the first question asked is, ‘What can we do for you?’”

Her remaining goals in office include major road improvement projects, among other things.

“Right now, the Colorado Outdoors project is consuming a lot of everybody’s time and effort,” Files said. “It’s always fun to see things actually start happening.”

More right than wrong

After leaving the bank in 2007, Atchley helped take care of his aging parents, farmed and drove cattle. But the next chapter of his life was in leadership. He was elected to the Delta County Board of Commissioners in 2010.

“I enjoy helping people, being part of decisions that help people,” Atchley said. “I had always been involved with economic development, and I wanted to continue to serve the community from government.”

He’s most proud of his city’s resiliency.

“Delta County is essentially still in a recession that started in 2008,” he said. “Fiscally, we have remained virtually debt free. We have still managed to continue providing all the services that we have since before the recession. It’s a great accomplishment.”

He sees similarities between his time in finance and his time as a commissioner.

“I’ve learned that you can’t please everyone,” he said. “That is hard, and not unlike lending. You make a decision. You just try to be more right than you are wrong.”

Get involved

Files said the best way to make change in your community is to get involved. There are always openings on different committees and commissions for the city and county, as well as peripherals like the recreation district or the downtown development authority.

“You can’t make change from afar. You have to be involved,” Files said. “You’ll either help that organization grow or you’ll find it’s time to move on to another.”