By Michael Perini In every election, we ask voters to step forward, pay attention, and make their voices heard. In Woodland Park, they did exactly that on April 7. Ballots were cast, decisions made, and a direction—at least for now—was chosen. But elections don’t just produce winners. They produce insight. With Councilmember George Jones moving into the role of mayor, the city council now faces an important decision: how to fill the resulting vacancy on the City Council. As I understand it, there are several options: leave the seat open for a period of time, call a special election, appoint someone, or accept applications to serve. While each option has its merits, the timing of this decision matters just as much as the decision itself. The election has just concluded. Voter engagement—often a challenge in local races—was recently activated. Residents took the time to learn, evaluate, and choose. That moment should not be set aside too quickly. Instead, it should inform what comes next.…