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Two city council members Monday night touted their work on the council and in other organizations as reasons they should be elected Longmont’s mayor. Longtime resident Gregory Harris pointed to his business experience and desire to keep the city grounded as proof voters should pick him as mayor.
Ward 1 Council member Tim Waters, at-large council member Joan Peck and retired construction executive Gregory Harris brought their vision of what the next mayor should to usher in the future of Longmont at a public forum, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Boulder County and broadcast live by Longmont Public media.
The trio squared off at the Longmont Museum’s Stewart Auditorium by answering questions from the online audience.
Waters, a retired educator, was elected to the Ward 1 seat in 2018 to fill a vacancy and was re-elected to a full four-year term in 2019. Waters said as mayor he would reach out to business owners on north Main Street to help develop a general improvement district.
He would also continue to support expanding early childhood education in Longmont and track the Platte River Power Authority’s efforts to meet the city’s 100% renewable energy goal by 2030. Waters said Longmont should use proposed federal infrastructure dollars for affordable housing and to help bring a long-desired commuter train service to Longmont.
Waters said he would be the best choice to lead Longmont as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is a make or break moment,” Waters said. “I am the best qualified to lead Longmont in the post-pandemic era.”
Peck won her at-large council seat in 2015 and was re-elected to a second consecutive four-year term in 2019. Peck said she helped approve quiet zones to help lessen the impact of train noise in the city.
She also said infrastructure dollars should be used to help bring commuter rail to Longmont and bring more housing for all income levels into the city. “We have residents living in cars now,” Peck said.
More people of every background also need to be brought into discussions concerning ordinance changes, Peck said. Many of the city’s current ordinances “are very old and not made with equity. I would bring those voices first to whatever ordinance we are considering and find out how it affects them,” Peck said.
Harris, a property manager who has lived in Longmont for more than 50 years, said the city should do more to get more housing for middle class people who want to work and live in Longmont.
Harris said Longmont will attract people but that good planning is needed. “The challenge is to maintain a small-town feeling as we continue to grow.” Harris said.
That includes better roads, bridges and other infrastructure upgrades, Harris said. He also said the current city council is guilty of government overreach by passing a healthy beverage ordinance and voting to support federal legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
