Peck builds lead but not calling herself mayor yet

Joan Peck’s lead over her closest challenger for Longmont mayor grew to a 482-vote margin in the latest tally posted by Boulder County Elections this afternoon.

Peck has collected 9,610 votes to 9,128 votes for Tim Waters. The third challenger in the race, Gregory Harris, received 4,935 votes, according to Boulder County.

Peck said on Thursday that she was confident her lead would hold but she’s not calling herself mayor just yet. “I’m excited but I’m not patting myself on the back,” Peck said. “I have been around long enough to know things can go sideways quickly.”

Waters could not be reached for comment this afternoon.

Peck, 73, was elected as an at-large representative on the city council in 2016. She led the effort to adopt Proposition 300 to amend the city charter banning fracking and she pushed for full-time monitoring of Longmont’s air quality at Vance Brand Airport and Union Reservoir. 

Peck campaigned on continuing efforts to bring commuter rail to Longmont by forging alliances with AmTrak and Front Range Commuter Rail.

Waters, 73, has represented Ward 1 on the city council since 2018. An educator who spent 21 years running an education research and development company, Waters campaigned for early childhood education and streamlining the process to approve new housing developments.  

Waters wants Vance Brand Airport to become a regional hub for transportation and to lead the development of electrified aviation.

Harris, 60, is a property manager and retired construction executive. Harris criticized the council for drifting left on several issues, including voting for a “health beverage” ordinance. 

Harris also said, during the campaign, the city has not done enough to provide transitional housing for working class families and to improve the city’s infrastructure to sustain its rapid growth.

Shiquita Yarbrough and Aren Rodriguez remained the top two vote getters for the at-large race for city council.