Emily Francis

Mayor

Telephone970-556-4748
Email efrancis@fortcollins.gov

Biography

Elected to City Council in April 2019, Emily Francis served as Mayor Pro Tem and represented District 6 in northwest Fort Collins before being elected Mayor in November 2025. Born and raised in Fort Collins—attending Laurel Elementary, Lesher Middle School, and Fort Collins High School—Emily is one of six sisters who grew up in what is now one of the City’s Natural Areas buildings. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and a Master of Public Health from Portland State University.

Emily has always been curious about how communities work, which led her to live in different cities and travel abroad. She ultimately returned home with a desire to apply what she learned elsewhere in the service of the community that shaped her.

She was elected in 2019 during her first campaign to represent District 6, and was the youngest member elected to City Council since the 1980s. Emily was re-elected in 2023 to represent District 6 and also served as Mayor Pro Tem from 2021-2026. As Mayor, she looks forward to representing Fort Collins, working in close partnership with her fellow elected Councilmembers, and collaborating with City staff in service of the whole community.

Since taking office, Emily has focused on supporting working families through housing, preserving mobile home parks, advancing economic mobility, and promoting environmental sustainability. She served as Chair of the Council Ad-Hoc Committee on Housing Affordability, which led to the Council’s adoption of the City’s Housing Strategic Plan. She also chaired the Community Impact Committee, which led to the creation of an Equity Office within the City Manager’s Office. Emily served on the Housing Catalyst Board from 2019-2026 and the Poudre Fire Authority from 2020-2026.

Serving on the City’s Finance Committee since 2021 has further deepened Emily’s understanding of the interconnectedness of City systems and the real tradeoffs inherent in public decision-making—how investments in one area ripple across others, and how fiscal stewardship, equity, and long-term sustainability must be held together.

Currently, Emily serves on the Platte River Power Authority and chairs the Affordable and Sustainable Growth Committee. In addition to her role as Mayor, Emily is currently employed by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

Emily is dedicated to helping shape the future of the Fort Collins community with a strong lens on equity and social health. She is passionate about giving agency and voice to those who are most vulnerable and who have been historically underrepresented. She is deeply attuned to emerging trends facing local government and communities, and her commitment to serving all residents is both principled and passionately felt. She welcomes opportunities to engage with residents in meaningful ways to strengthen civic participation.

Emily is particularly curious about the intersection of housing, climate change, transportation, and community health, and how thoughtful public policy can improve outcomes across all four.

Those who work with Emily speak of her courage in embracing complex and challenging issues. She is known for listening deeply, asking thoughtful and penetrating questions, sharing her perspective with clarity, and being willing to change her mind as she learns from new facts and viewpoints. She often identifies the polarities inherent in many of the community's issues, inviting others into a dialogue that is both honest and constructive.

When she is not working or engaged in public service, Emily enjoys reading, relaxing on her paddleboard, and competitive running.