Waters concedes race for Longmont mayor

Tim Waters said this morning that his run for mayor is over, conceding the race to rival Joan Peck.

“In light of the latest tally of votes posted by the Boulder County Clerk I’ve concluded the time has come to move beyond election cycles and politics in anticipation of what comes next for Longmont,” Waters said in an e-mailed statement.

Waters and Peck — both current members of the city council — were locked in a close race for the mayor’s chair soon after polls closed Tuesday. At one point early Wednesday, Waters held a slight lead.

Peck began pulling away through Thursday’s vote count and results posted by Boulder County Thursday day showed Peck holding a solid 774-vote lead over Waters. Peck collected 10,818 votes to 9,944 for Waters. Gregory Harris brought in 5,534 votes.

Waters, in his statement, thanked everyone who supported him “with your time, treasure, and testimonials. I am proud of the campaign we ran and only regret that I failed to persuade enough voters for the election to go our way.”

Waters — who retains his Ward 1 seat on the city council — is a proponent of early childhood education and of streamlining the licensing process to get more houses on the market sooner in Longmont. He also wants to transform Vance Brand Airport into a regional facility.

Waters also congratulated Peck on her win. “Tip of the hat to Joan Peck and her team for the campaign they ran,” Waters said in his statement. “Longmont voters have spoken on who they want to lead Longmont and how they want Longmont led and I respect their decision.

"Congratulations to Joan on her win and I wish her every success in her term as Longmont’s next mayor.”

"I will continue my service to the community during the remaining two years in my term as the Ward 1 representative on city council.”