About Jake Niece

Jake Niece is running for a second term in 2024. He was first elected to serve as District 3 Ouray County Commissioner in 2020 and was sworn in on January 12th, 2021.

Niece is a lifelong resident of Colorado, grew up in Greeley, CO, and attended the University of Colorado where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. As a student, he worked in an aerospace lab flying NASA science satellites and then went on to work at a startup developing a new kind of prosthetic foot.

In 2010 Jake moved to the western slope and for eight years worked as a wildland firefighter in the summer and a snowmaker at ski areas in the winter.

In 2017 he began working for EcoAction Partners, a non-profit performing low-income energy audits, weatherization improvements, and energy efficiency consultations for businesses. And in 2018 he built a house for himself in Ridgway.

Jake enjoys many forms of outdoor recreation including quiet backpacking trips, dual sport motorcycle riding, backcountry skiing, peak bagging, and elk and deer hunting.

In his role as county commissioner, Jake serves on the following boards and groups: