Political newcomer Meg Thornbury is running for the Ward 2 Longmont City Council seat in the upcoming November election.
Ward 2 includes the south and southwest regions of Longmont and is currently represented by Councilmember Matthew Popkin, who is also seeking a full term this November after being appointed to the Ward 2 council seat in January.
Thornbury, 31, filed a candidate affidavit with the city clerk’s office on June 5. She is a licensed clinical social worker.
Inspired to run for local office in part by her opposition to many of the policies being enacted at the federal level by the Trump Administration, Thornbury said she wants to “build community” and promote “local resistance.”
“ICE enforcement right now is huge and is going to negatively impact our communities,” Thornbury said.
An advocate for inclusivity, Thornbury wants to ensure protections exist for “queer spaces … drag shows and queer kids.”
A licensed clinical social worker, Thornbury has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Kenyon College in Ohio and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh.
“The biggest way that we can help with mental health at the community level is to have more community building, have more community events, just really create those connections and abilities for people to be vulnerable together, especially during these very stressful times,” Thornbury said.
In addition to promoting a welcoming community, Thornbury wants Longmont to be a city where people can afford to live, even on a single income.
Whether it be apartments or purchasable homes, Thornbury supports an all-of-the-above approach to housing.
“We definitely need … more housing period,” Thornbury said. “I am all for apartments just because that’s … our best way to meet the current need.”
Thornbury was born and raised in Niwot and moved to Longmont about a year and a half ago. She has worked in the city for three years.
The Longmont City Council race is scheduled for November 4. In addition to the Ward 2 seat, two at-large council seats and the mayoral seat are up for election this fall.
“Really, building community is my main goal,” Thornbury said.
