Crystal Prieto has announced her candidacy for a Longmont City Council at-large seat. Prieto is a lifelong Longmont resident who currently works as a family development specialist at the Emergency Family Assistance Association in Boulder. “I’ve seen firsthand how policies crafted without real-world insight can fall short, leaving too many of us struggling,” Preito wrote on her campaign website. “I am running for Longmont City Council to change that dynamic. I believe in bold, informed leadership that puts people before politics — leadership that listens, collaborates, and fights for the solutions our community needs.”
Prieto’s campaign priorities include strengthening Longmont’s “safety net,” addressing systemic issues like homelessness and traffic congestion, cutting wasteful spending, and “advocating for equitable opportunities.”
Prieto said she wants to make sure all taxpayer money spent by the city is working to resolve the most urgent needs of the community. She pointed to a $30,000 approval for library pickup hold lockers and an additional $30,000 approved by the city manager as spending that is not reflecting the needs of the Longmont community.
“I would also take a closer look at city contracts and consultant spending,” Prieto told the Longmont Leader. “We should evaluate whether those services are delivering real value, or whether some of those funds could be reallocated to direct services like mental health support, rental assistance, or youth programming. Our budget is a reflection of our values, and right now, we need to ensure those values are centered on helping people navigate increasingly difficult times, especially with looming government funding cuts coming down the pipeline.”
Prieto explained that the approval process for affordable housing development should be streamlined and the city should partner with non-profit developers when possible as one piece to tackle the issue of housing insecurity. She called for an examination of the fee-in-lieu policy and the most recent increase that was approved in November 2023.
Longmont requires that 12 percent of new residential developments include at least 12 percent of the units available to low and moderate-income residents. Developers are frequently paying the fee of $5.93 per square foot for rental properties and $13.50 per square foot for sale properties in-lieu of the 12 percent requirement. Prieto suggests this fee may need to be increased again to encourage developers to build affordable housing units.
Prieto said strategic partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and banks might allow low and moderate-income residents to get approved for a mortgage. She added “responsible planning must go hand in hand with expansion,” meaning that new development projects should provide quality housing while fitting within the “character and capacity” of the existing neighborhoods in Longmont.
“My work has put me in direct contact with families navigating housing instability, financial stress, and limited access to opportunity,” Prieto answered when asked why she is uniquely qualified to serve on Longmont’s City Council. “I understand the real barriers people face — not just in theory, but in practice — and I’ve worked alongside people and organizations to find solutions. That perspective matters at the policy table.” Prieto added that she has built relationships with stakeholders and knows how to collaborate across different sectors to get things done.
Two at-large city council seats are up for election this November. Alex Kalkhofer, John Lembke, Patrick Dillon, Jake Marsing, and Jennifer “JJ” Jeffery have also announced their campaigns for at-large seats.
