Alex Kalkhofer Runs for Longmont City Council At-Large
Bagels and Big Ideas to Preserve What Makes Longmont Special
Alex Kalkhofer officially announced his candidacy for the at-large seat on Longmont City Council in March, entering the race with a focus on preserving the city’s character while preparing for smart, inclusive growth.
Kalkhofer, a supply chain professional and active member of multiple city and county advisory boards, is running on a platform centered around attainable housing, smarter transportation, and small business support.
“I’m getting all my ducks in a row,” Kalkhofer said about entering the race as early as possible and acknowledging the balancing act of campaigning while working full-time. “The sooner I get into it, the more I can figure this out.”
His decision to run came after years of community involvement and conversations with neighbors, local leaders, and small business owners about the challenges and opportunities facing Longmont.
Born to a Cuban-American mother and an Austrian father, Kalkhofer’s upbringing was shaped by the work ethic he developed while helping at his mom’s Cuban-Mexican restaurant in Miami Beach. That early exposure to small business has stuck with him and fuels his appreciation for local entrepreneurship.
Kalkhofer’s approach to public service is driven by lived experience and a desire to give back to the city he’s called home since 2008. After graduating from college, he and his wife considered two options: New York City or Longmont. The decision was made easier when an aunt, a long-time resident, invited them to stay with her while they searched for housing.
“There were a bunch of houses in foreclosure,” Kalkhofer recalled. “We found a log cabin near 10th and Hover for $200,000 and thought, ‘That’s a lot of money,’ but we jumped in. Now, that sounds cheap.”
Kalkhofer sighed at the thought, knowing how much Longmont homes cost now.
“The city’s been really great when it comes to services and accommodations,” Kalkhofer said. “It’s been good to us, and I thought—what can I do to start giving back?”
That mindset led him to seek out community roles. Kalkhofer currently serves on the City of Longmont Transportation Advisory Board, Boulder County’s Community Action Program (CAP), and the Board of Trustees at the Longmont Elks Lodge. He says each role has deepened his connection to the community and helped him identify where Longmont can improve.
But it’s his transportation work that lights a particular spark.
“I’m passionate about transportation,” Kalkhofer said. “My dad is Austrian, and every time we go to Europe, we don’t rent a car, we take public transit everywhere. Expecting everyone here to own and maintain a car? It’s just not realistic.”
Kalkhofer recently pressed regional transit officials about better service for Longmont, especially regarding long-delayed passenger rail service.
“I asked them straight up: when are we getting our train?” Kalkhofer said, recounting a recent advisory board meeting with RTD officials. “They told me the cost was around $650 million, and that Longmont and Boulder have already contributed hundreds of millions. So, I asked, ‘Where’s our train?’”
Kalkhofer also raised the need for better airport transit.
“Right now, you need two buses to get from Longmont to DIA,” Kalkhofer said. “I pushed them to look at the data—if enough people are taking the AB line from Longmont, why not run a direct route?”
For Kalkhofer, transportation isn’t just about convenience, it’s a matter of equity.
“With CAP, we’re constantly thinking about how to empower people who can’t afford a car,” Kalkhofer said. “We need to design a city that works for everyone.”
“I’m a big believer in multi-modal transportation,” Kalkhofer said. “Cars take up a lot of space. What if we gave people real alternatives—better bus routes, bike lanes, and walkable paths?”
Kalkhofer acknowledged that Longmont traffic isn’t as intense as Denver’s—yet.
“But you try getting across Ken Pratt at 5:30 p.m. on a weekday—it’s not great,” Kalkhofer said. “We’re not in gridlock, but we could be if we don’t start making smart decisions now.”
That includes thinking creatively about traffic flow.
“Instead of sending all the cars through one corridor, what if we added crossovers—like taking Boston over the tracks to Main Street—to spread out the traffic?” Kalkhofer said.
He’s also pushing for better transit access.
“We need more frequent RTD service and bus routes that actually go where people want to go. That’s how you make transit a real option,” Kalkhofer said.
Kalkhofer’s understanding of road design extends to speed enforcement as well. While recent speed cameras were a city initiative, he has thoughts on their effectiveness.
“People drive the speed the road tells them to,” Kalkhofer explained. “If a road is designed for 45, people will drive 45—even if the speed limit says 30. If we want to reduce speeding, it’s not just about enforcement. It’s about redesigning streets to feel slower.”
Kalkhofer wanted to make it clear: it’s not about making everyone ride bikes or give up cars, it’s about offering real options.
“If someone wants to keep driving, awesome,” Kalkhofer said. “But if they can’t afford a car or just don’t want to drive, I want them to have multiple options. That’s what real accessibility looks like.”
His vision of a walkable Longmont isn’t just about infrastructure, it’s also economic.
Kalkhofer’s passion for local business is deeply rooted. Not only does he advocate for streamlining city processes for small businesses, but he also emphasized the lasting community impact of spending money locally.
“People who walk around their neighborhoods spend more money locally. In European cities, people go from shop to shop, buying what they need in multiple places. That creates a healthier local economy,” Kalkhofer said. “What can we do to bring that model here, instead of just sending people to one big-box store?”
Ultimately, his campaign is focused on future-proofing Longmont while keeping it accessible for everyday residents.
“We can’t turn into a city where people come to work but can’t afford to live,” Kalkhofer said.
Kalkhofer platform centers on three key issues: transportation, attainable housing, and support for small businesses.
“Growing up, my mom owned a few restaurants, and I saw how hard it was to cut through the red tape,” Kalkhofer said. “Small businesses make us unique. If you blink while driving down Ken Pratt, you see the same thing that you see in any town in the USA. It doesn’t really make us unique.”
But Kalkhofer’s motivation isn’t just red tape. It’s personal.
“I have two small kids, five and seven,” Kalkhofer said. “And the way things are going, they probably won’t be able to afford to live in Longmont when they grow up. They’ll be pushed out to Weld County or beyond.”
Not only does he advocate for streamlining city processes for small businesses, but he also emphasized the lasting community impact of spending money locally.
“When you support a small business, that money stays in Longmont,” Kalkhofer explained. “If they need an electrician, they’re probably getting a local electrician. If they need sewer repair or a plumber, they’re usually hiring a local plumber. When it comes to these large corporations, they’re going to other large corporations to help them with other things. And then the money is going out of your locale.”
Kalkhofer’s also concerned about housing affordability and avoiding the fate of places like Boulder or Steamboat Springs, where workers are priced out of the cities they serve.
“We can’t become a town where people who work here can’t live here,” Kalkhofer said. “We’re going to be landlocked soon because of open space, so we need to get creative—more duplexes, triplexes, townhomes. The missing middle.”
He worries that if Longmont doesn’t act now, it risks following the trajectory of other mountain towns like Aspen or Steamboat Springs.
“Young families get priced out. Schools start to close. And in my opinion, once schools start closing, that’s when a city starts to die,” Kalkhofer said.
Currently working for a telehealth company, he deals daily with moving medical devices internationally and domestically, navigating tariffs, shifting policies, and complex logistics.
“These last two weeks have been wild,” Kalkhofer said, referencing recent tariff announcements. “Trying to model the financial impact, sort through conflicting information, and communicate the reality to stakeholders—it’s been a lot. But it teaches you how to make data-driven decisions, which is exactly what I want to bring to the city council.”
His experience managing vendor relationships and solving complex problems has shaped how he views local governance.
“You’ve got a problem. You gather the data. Then you bring the right people together, residents, business owners, developers, and find a solution. It’s collaborative, and that’s how the city council should be,” Kalkhofer said.
For Kalkhofer, politics isn’t about party lines or national rhetoric, it’s about people, neighborhoods, and practical problem-solving.
“Whether it’s at work, at home, or in government, I try to be approachable, respectful, and really listen to what people have to say,” Kalkhofer said. “But I also believe in accountability. If someone says they’re going to do something, I want to make sure we’re following through and using data to make sound decisions.”
Instead of focusing on party affiliation or political divisions, Kalkhofer believes local leadership should be rooted in collaboration.
“You can run a list of registered voters and only knock on doors from your party,” Kalkhofer said. “Or you can knock on every door, because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who someone voted for—we’re all neighbors. It’s not about what’s happening in D.C., it’s about what’s happening right here in Longmont.”
He sees this neighbor-first mentality as a way to break down partisan divides and focus on what truly matters to residents: safe streets, accessible transportation, vibrant businesses, and affordable housing.
“City council isn’t about solving national issues. We’re not going to fix gun laws or Medicare. But we can figure out how a crosswalk is designed or how to support our local businesses,” Kalkhofer said. “And those little things, those seemingly small decisions, can have a big impact.”
Kalkhofer is currently in what he calls the information-gathering phase of his campaign. He’s meeting one-on-one with business owners, community stakeholders, and former elected officials to better understand what Longmont needs. His goal? To serve as a true representative of the community, not just the loudest voices in the room.
“One thing the city can do better is get input from more people,” Kalkhofer said. “A lot of the same people show up to city council meetings. But what about the voices we’re not hearing? How can we go out and meet people where they’re at—at local events, festivals, or in the parks?”
That approachability extends to his campaign style, which he says won’t be centered on big fundraising or flashy advertising.
“I’m not trying to raise as much as some other candidates. My approach is sweat equity,” Kalkhofer explained. “I’ve put a lot of work into the homes I’ve lived in, and I plan to campaign the same way—lean, efficient, and respectful of people’s contributions. If someone donates to me, I want them to know I’ll use their money wisely.”
Kalkhofer plans to hit the pavement this summer, knocking on doors, attending community events, and engaging with residents across all of Longmont, not just his own neighborhood.
“You can’t take one approach for the whole city,” Kalkhofer said. “Downtown has different challenges than North Main, and South of Pace is different from the west side. You need a multi-faceted strategy, and that starts by showing up and listening.”
Ultimately, Kalkhofer’s campaign is about preserving Longmont’s character while making sure it grows in a way that’s inclusive, equitable, and community-first.
“Longmont’s been good to me,” Kalkhofer said. “I want to make sure it stays that way for everyone.”
When he’s not talking policy, he’s crafting pretzels and bagels in his kitchen, something he picked up thanks to his heritage and the sad state of East Coast-style carbs in Colorado.
“I couldn’t find a decent bagel in Longmont,” Kalkhofer said, laughing. “So, I started making them myself. I boil them in the morning and bake them fresh. And I make a killer Bavarian pretzel, too.”
Kalkhofer’s campaign is up and running, and supporters can donate or sign up to volunteer via his website.
For more information on candidacy requirements and election details, visit the City of Longmont’s official website.
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