Sarah Levison draws from Longmont council experience in bid for mayor
Levison is putting her love for the city at the forefront of her campaign, promising to 'keep Longmont livable.' She explained that livability can be achieved in multiple ways, from keeping traffic down to inspiring a sense of friendliness among residents. One element she wants to focus on, however, is making Longmont affordable for people of all economic backgrounds.
'Keeping Longmont livable means that we have everybody here,' Levison said.
Levison has lived in Longmont for 28 years. She remembers when Hover Street was the western boundary of the city. She's spent years supporting local nonprofits by serving on the boards of organizations including El Comité and the Rotary Club of Niwot.
Levison is proud of the initiatives she championed as an at-large representative of the Longmont City Council from 2007 to 2015, including creating RISE. The program was designed to lift families out of poverty.
'If we're looking at having a Longmont that's livable, that means that people have opportunity,' she said.
While serving on the council, Levison also fought to give Longmont parents greater access to high-quality early childhood education. She recalled talking to Gov. Jared Polis about early childhood development when he was still a congressman. There's additional work to be done on that front, she said, such as expanding child care options for employees who work at night.
If elected, Levison hopes to repeal the city's 3.53% sales tax on food purchased at grocery stores. She called the tax regressive, saying that it hurts low-income families and seniors. She pointed out that nearby cities including Loveland have ended their tax on food.
The city budget is another priority for Levison, who described herself as being conservative on finances. She wants to invite residents to come up with projects, such as fixing a sidewalk or trimming a tree, and pitch them to the city during an event similar to a science fair. City staff members will then work with residents to bring their proposals to life.
'It's this way of getting people engaged,' she said. 'After all, the budget belongs to everybody in the city.'
Levison made a couple of previous attempts at the mayoral seat, running for the position in 2015 and 2017. Now that she's spent a decade off of the city council, Levison said she's ready to take another swing at winning a municipal election.
'When you've been out for 10 years, you've become a regular member of the public again,' she said. 'So, I feel that this is a fresh start for me. I feel that I have a lot still to contribute, especially in some of the critical areas that we're facing.'
Levison said one of her favorite things about Longmont is its small town atmosphere. She aims to keep that feeling at the core of the city, no matter how big it gets.
'I think Longmont has such a great vibe,' she said. 'People come here and they can't believe it. It's really unbelievable what we have here. It's so special.'
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