Zoelle Lane is a Fort Collins resident who moved to Northern Colorado during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was originally born and raised in Canada, and she is the daughter of American and Syrian immigrants.
“I’m an immigrant whose working experience is in the service industry, caregiving, and non-profits,” Lane said. “In non-profits, I focused on running, and later designing and implementing nationally, volunteer programs for people of different socioeconomic backgrounds so that volunteering didn’t have a financial barrier to entry.”
Lane said her background as the daughter of immigrants and her work experience drive her motivation to make a positive change in Fort Collins.
Lane also currently works at Colorado State University, where she works with many of the people who also live in District 5. She serves as the human resources manager in the International Programs department, as well as working with the COWINS union (Colorado Workers for Innovative and New Solutions) and the Classified Personnel Council, all to “further my work advocating and lobbying for essential workers.”
Why Zoelle Lane?
Lane said her top three priorities are to raise Fort Collins’ minimum wage, help the city’s workers to unionize, and protect vulnerable communities.
The current minimum wage in Fort Collins is $14.81, and Lane wants to raise that number so residents can afford to live in their city. Lane also believes in the workers' ability to unionize and wants to ensure their right to do so.
“City workers have been ignored by the city manager, and council has decided not to amend the supporting social programs with a housing-first model city charter in the style of other Coloradoan cities to allow workers this human right to unionize … I believe this is incredibly necessary for Fort Collins.”
Along with those policies, Lane said she believes positive change in the community begins with supporting social programs with a housing-first model, decriminalizing being unhoused, repealing car camping bans, protecting gender-affirming healthcare, and stopping cooperation with ICE.
When asked how her goals align with the city’s strategic plan, Lane stated that Fort Collins’ goals have always revolved around affordable housing, and her priorities work heavily in line with that.
“I just bring a different perspective on how to get there,” Lane stated. “I want to ensure that we are working strategically to bring about change in our city that is beneficial to the people who have been overlooked while also ensuring Fort Collins remains a place where people can see themselves getting their first job, starting a family, buying a home, and retiring.”
More information regarding Zoelle Lane and her policies can be found on her campaign website, including her contact information, endorsements, and upcoming events.
“Genuine change starts locally, and my background and work experience makes me uniquely suited to represent the people in District 5.”
Calvin Masten is a third-year Journalism and Media Communication major and Sociology minor at Colorado State University. His fondness for interpersonal stories and human connections drives his enjoyment of writing, editing, and filming.