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Back in 2001, I remember hearing a speaker at Niwot High School’s commencement, a well-known member of Longmont’s old guard. My family was exhilarated by the achievements of our hard-working first-born child, and excited about opportunities to come. Unfortunately, the speaker’s message left us incredulous. The theme? “It’s not what you know, it’s WHO you know.”
Which brings me to Longmont’s 2021 mayoral election. A postcard came in the mail yesterday, featuring a line-up of former mayors in the company of a current candidate. It brought that commencement speaker’s theme to mind.
I’m not voting for a cadre of former mayors, I’m voting for Joan Peck. She’s dedicated enormous effort to improving transportation options in Boulder County. I want her to continue that. I’m voting for Joan Peck because she’s opposed to metro districts. I don’t want to see Longmont Balkanized into different taxpayer zones. I’m voting for Joan Peck because she’s a watchdog who doesn’t assume developers have the best answers to Longmont’s housing and infrastructure needs.
It’s no qualification to be an insider. Vote thoughtfully for the candidate who shares the concerns of citizens like you and acts accordingly. For me, that’s got to be Joan Peck.
