We accomplished much, so it’s time to step aside

I have been a part of your council for the last nine years, first as councilperson and then as mayor. My goal has been to create a framework by which the City Council could tackle serious challenges with professionalism and maturity. I wanted a council that listened to Longmont residents first, as a core principle. Today, after much growth, our council is working together, with city staff and with the residents in a partnership anchored by mutual respect. And even when we don’t agree, we are discussing policy, not politics.

We should all be proud of that.

We created a city government that is data-driven, not personality driven. We pushed hard for affordable housing, even as people rushed to live here. We fought for the incorporation of child care spaces in new developments. We were steadfast environmental stewards, fighting runaway fracking and publishing air quality reports. We fortified our emergency preparedness, rebuilding the St. Vrain watershed to mitigate future risks. We initiated an ethics code for the council and a portal to report violations.

The list goes on.

I am proud of what we have achieved. I am most excited about the framework of working together that we established.

As we come into the election season, wisdom tells me that it is time to step aside and pass the torch to the next generation. One that understands the vision of Longmont that we are moving toward together, honors the partnership among the council, the city, and its dynamic residents.

So it is with great satisfaction and humility that I have decided not to seek a third term as mayor. The future is here, and I’m excited to be a part of it with you.

I’ll see you around town! Please keep in touch.

— Joan Peck, Longmont mayor