Wondering what Fort Collins City Council District 3 candidates have to say about Northern Colorado Regional Airport as you fill out your ballot?
The Coloradoan sent identical questionnaires to all of the candidates running for Fort Collins mayor and City Council in the Nov. 4, 2025, election.
More: Are you ready for the 2025 election? Your guide to Larimer County-area candidates, issues
Below are their answers to this question: How would the Northern Colorado Regional Airport, jointly owned by Fort Collins and Loveland, best serve its community? And should attracting commercial service be a priority?
Note: Candidate responses were reviewed and, in some cases, lightly edited to adhere to Coloradoan style guidelines.
The three candidates in the Fort Collins City Council District 3 race are, in order of how they appear on the ballot, clockwise from top left: Josh Fudge, Lance Smith and Steve Yurash.
Josh Fudge
“It could start by updating its website, which doesn’t appear to have been updated since 2021 and has many broken links.
“In the short term, if feasible, using the airport as a place to get security screening before a shuttle ride to DIA could be a great service for our community.
“In the long term, we should be ready for future development should population growth on the Front Range result in FNL becoming a ‘second’ airport similar to LaGuardia or Midway.”
Check out Fudge’s full Q&A here.
Lance Smith
“The new terminal and road service to DIA has already helped those who prefer not to drive to DIA. The TSA checkpoint improves the passenger’s travel experience and positions the airport well to attract commercial flights.
“Commercial service would require smaller planes unless the runway is significantly expanded. Smaller planes would likely mean destination flights like the airport has had in the past with mixed success. Because of this, I don’t think attracting commercial service should be a priority over better parking at the airport.”
Check out Smith’s full Q&A here.
Steve Yurash
“I do not see any major changes for the airport. I would not want to subsidize any activity to try to attract new service. The Landline connection at the airport seems like a very appropriate use.”
Check out Yurash’s full Q&A here.
Election Day is Nov. 4, 2025.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins City Council District 3 candidates on regional airport
