Jennifer “JJ” Jeffery has announced her campaign for Longmont City Council in an attempt to “restore balance, protect freedom, and make Longmont more affordable.” Jeffery is a small business owner who also operates a homestead where she and her husband raise animals, grow produce and flowers, and maintain an orchard.
Jeffery touts “common sense solutions,” reducing fees, reviewing property taxes, cutting “burdensome outdated regulations,” and “unleashing local innovation” by supporting entrepreneurs as some of her campaign priorities.
“I think the most pressing issue in Longmont and statewide is the economic strain we all still feel after the pandemic,” Jeffery said. “Increasing taxes and fees haven't helped. I've had people reach out asking me to work toward removing city taxes on groceries and primary homes and it's my top priority to work toward that. Of course that also means working to streamline city operations by modernizing and prioritizing our spending. I also believe removing barriers to progress is another way to help ease the strain.”
With several candidates already entered into consideration, Jeffery says community members are excited about her candidacy because they feel there aren’t enough people who represent their views. “I've had some very good discussions with people who have differing world views,” Jeffery said. “Finding common ground and ways to represent both perspectives is very important to me and meeting people willing to have those difficult discussions is one of my favorite parts about running.”
One of the most discussed issues in the city council race so far has been affordable housing. Jeffery suggests an alternative to what she calls “dense, developer-driven projects,” that sometimes pave over farmland while the city rakes in revenue from “hefty permit fees, impact fees, infrastructure deals, and long-term property tax revenue.”
Instead, Jeffery believes the city should allow families to live in a camper on their own property while rebuilding or repairing a house. She suggests legalizing tiny houses provides another avenue for families to buy into the market without relying on large affordable housing development projects. She added that corporate landlords are bulk-buying properties and outbidding families which creates a “rigged” market. Jeffery said cutting permit and building fees can help families compete in the market and earn “sweat equity.”
Jeffery believes deportations of illegal immigrants should be a priority in Longmont. This includes removing any sanctuary city policies, working with federal immigration authorities and making Longmont a "Constitutional Integrity Zone.” She has a resolution titled “Let Kids Be Kids” to affirm “the right of children to a childhood free from sexual and gender ideology instruction in grades K-8.”
Two at-large city council seats are up for election this November. Alex Kalkhofer, John Lembke, Patrick Dillon, Jake Marsing, and Crystal Prieto have also announced their campaigns for at-large seats.
