Mayor Rivero Delivers 17th Parker State of the Town at PACE Center

Mayor Joshua Rivero spoke to the community at the 17th annual Parker State of the Town at the PACE Center on February 25, 2026, an event hosted by the Rotary Club of Parker that the original report says drew elected officials and town staff. Rivero, identified in recent coverage as an independent who defeated Republican incumbent Jeff Toborg 51% to 49% out of 29,967 votes cast, used the platform amid ongoing local debates over housing and infrastructure.

Rivero’s municipal record stretches back to his election to Parker Town Council in 2012, a tenure described elsewhere as “nearly 12 years.” He is also a local businessman who owns two coffee shops in Douglas County. During his mayoral campaign and press interviews Rivero framed his appeal around nonpartisan representation, saying, “What we need at this level is nonpartisan representation. What we need is somebody that listens to all of Parker and not just one party.”

His stated priorities combine campaign promises and council work: the Joshuaforparker site lists keeping the town on solid financial footing, enhancing economic development to bring more businesses to Parker, creating activities for Parker youth, and planning for senior citizens. Press coverage added public safety, town growth, and transportation to that list. Rivero’s campaign slogan “Doing What is Best for Parker” accompanies a longer appeal: “You can’t build paradise and expect no one to move here. We have built a strong and safe place for families to raise their kids, where our kids can thrive, and where if we want to, we can retire here when we are done.”

Housing emerged as a recurring theme in Rivero’s public statements. He described housing policy as a “trivial pursuit board,” saying, “You need all six pieces to win the game. And right now we’re missing two.” He identified the missing pieces as elder living units and condominiums for sale for young people and warned that “the market, again, is inflating because there’s nothing for sale.” Rivero has said one approach is to “connect with state and local officials and act as a liaison for more housing opportunities in the city.” Those remarks sit alongside county-level data noting Parker’s rapid growth from fewer than 300 residents in 1981 to 68,000 residents “last year,” plus building-permit figures of 622 single-family permits in 2023 and 317 in 2024, and multifamily permits of 582 in 2023 and 102 in the first half of 2024. Construction at the Looking Glass development was photographed on June 25, 2025.

Rivero’s remarks came against the backdrop of Parker’s Strategic Plan, first created in 2016 and aligned with the town’s Comprehensive Master Plan. The council’s six strategic priorities are Support an Active Community; Foster Community Creativity and Engagement; Enhance Economic Vitality; Promote a Safe and Healthy Community; Innovate with Collaborative Governance; and Develop a Visionary Community Through Balanced Growth. Town Council members listed on official materials include Brandi Wilks, Todd Hendreks, Mayor Joshua Rivero, Erik Frandsen, Laura Hefta, John Diak, and Anne Barrington.

City projects Rivero supported while on council are detailed in past council materials. Items in the packet include a $151,939.50 final design contract for Pine Drive/Sulphur Gulch Bridge Rehabilitation with RS&H, a $105,153 final design contract for Hilltop Road/Canterberry Parkway with Kimley-Horn, a $270,852 agreement with Stanley Consultants for Parker Road sidewalks, a $932,988.20 trade agreement with Interface Communications Company for traffic signals, and a $2,072,720.17 contract for Mainstreet North Sidewalk Improvements with Jalisco International, Inc. Council materials also record supplemental amendments totaling $13,280,835 in expenditures and $16,679,835 in revenues, a net increase of $3,399,000, and show Ordinance No. 1.553.2 passing on second reading after a motion by Joshua Rivero and a second from Cheryl Poage with roll-call votes recorded as yes from Rivero, Poage, Todd Hendreks, John Diak and Laura Hefta; the packet text includes a Dec. 5, 2022 meeting context and a public hearing closure at 7:37 p.m.

Parker Parks and Recreation continues community programming partnerships: recent sponsors for the Love ’em or Leave ’em Valentine’s Day 5K/10K included RNK Running & Walking as Title Sponsor and finish-line sponsors Two22 Brew, Douglas County Libraries, Playa Bowls, Search Parker Magazine and Texas Roadhouse.

The brief event notice that sparked this coverage is truncated after the phrase “local b…,” and past press excerpts mentioning that Rivero was set to start as mayor on Dec. 16 do not specify a year; those items remain to be clarified. For now, Rivero’s stated emphasis on housing types, fiscal stability and the Strategic Plan’s six priorities sets the agenda Parker’s council and staff will confront in the months ahead.