Connecting Policy and Community Across the Front Range
Devin Edgely Brings Expertise Beyond Longmont
As the Longmont City Council prepares to fill Marcia Martin’s vacancy in Ward 2, one applicant, Devin Edgely, aims to succeed with her passion for policy, regional collaboration, and community engagement.
With a decade of residency in Longmont and a professional background rooted in advocacy and research, Edgely approaches the seat with an experienced professional perspective on the city’s potential.
“I’ve lived in Longmont for 10 years now,” Edgely said. “I live in Southmoor Park, one of the biggest neighborhoods in Longmont, with my husband, our chickens, dogs, and even a turtle—it’s a fun time.”
Edgely’s career as a policy program specialist at the Boulder Chamber of Commerce has equipped her with experience in analyzing state and local policies and advocating for the business community.
“Our members come to us with concerns, whether it’s around taxes, regulation, or ordinances,” Edgley explained. “I testify at city council in Boulder or the state capitol on behalf of the business community.”
Originally from Houston, Texas, Edgely’s professional journey began with journalism, where her focus on photography sparked a desire to tell impactful stories.
“I still love to capture the essence of a moment,” Edgley shared. “That storytelling is what led me to policy. I wanted to be able to tell the stories that needed to be heard, often by advocating for the community.”
Edgely expressed a desire to deepen her connection with Longmont and Ward 2.
“I spend a lot of my time researching local policy in Boulder, but I live here. Other than issues like parking minimums, density, and minimum wage, I’d love to know more about the needs in my community and advocate for them,” Edgely said.
In addition to her professional experience, Edgely serves on the board of the Boulder County Farmers Market and the Junkyard Social Club, a nonprofit focused on providing education for children and adults through innovative programming.
Edgely volunteers her time at the Junkyard Social Club, where she helps develop programming for children. Although she doesn’t have a background in education, she’s learned valuable skills in supporting the nonprofit’s mission.
“I’m learning a lot with that,” Edgely said. “It’s been great to contribute to something that helps our community.”
Edgely sees her professional background as an asset for advancing regional collaboration.
“I think there’s a synergy between what I do in Boulder and what could benefit Longmont,” Edgely said. “For example, minimum wage increases in the unincorporated Boulder County had ripple effects across surrounding cities. Having my ear to the ground in Boulder gives me insights that could directly impact Longmont.”
Edgely addressed housing density, workforce development, and transportation.
“Density is a major concern—where are we going to put housing, and how are we going to support our workforce with affordable options?” Edgely said. “Transportation is another big deal, and I think Longmont has been doing a good job, but there’s room for collaboration with neighboring cities.”
Edgely highlighted the importance of tailoring approaches to Longmont’s unique demographics.
“The population and incomes in Longmont are different from Boulder’s, so we need solutions that reflect those differences,” Edgely said. “A common mistake is assuming that what works in one city will work in another. We need to focus on what works for us.”
Aligning local policies with state-level climate goals is another priority for Edgely.
“Climate initiatives, such as housing near transportation hubs to reduce emissions, are essential,” Edgely said. “I’d love to see Longmont align more with state goals to address these critical issues.”
One of Edgely’s key issues is addressing homelessness and the need for better behavioral health support in addition to housing solutions.
“I tackle homelessness at my job and do a lot of research on how to mitigate it in our region,” Edgely said. “Housing is definitely part of the solution, but it’s not the only part. Providing services and treatment for individuals is what will help keep people in housing.”
Edgely stressed that homelessness is a regional issue, and collaboration between cities is necessary to find effective solutions.
“If we can’t collaborate regionally, we’re not going to solve this,” Edgely said. “Homelessness isn’t just one area’s problem. People migrate between cities, and it’s essential to have a regional approach.”
In her professional work, Edgely has studied homelessness solutions in other regions of Colorado and believes that behavioral health services and more case workers are crucial.
“We need more services and case workers to help unhoused individuals stay in housing,” Edgely said. “On a state level, they’re tackling housing availability, like the voucher program, but once someone is in housing, we need to help them learn how to stay there.”
In closing, Edgely expressed a deep fondness for Longmont’s smaller-town feel.
“Longmont reminds me a lot of Denton, where I went to college,” Edgely said. “It’s small, but it’s close to big things. I really like living in a smaller area that’s close to bigger cities, like Boulder or Denver.”
As Longmont continues to grow, Edgely is passionate about balancing development with the city’s small-town charm.
“That’s part of why density is one of the things I would work on,” Edgely said. “I want to find that balance of having housing for the workforce here while also not turning into a giant city and starting to have issues that maybe a giant city could have, like a full COVID situation.”
“I love that Longmont has a small-town feel, but I also want to ensure that as we grow, we do so thoughtfully, maintaining what makes this place special,” Edgely said.
When it comes to balancing the needs of Ward 2 with those of the broader Longmont community, Edgely emphasized the importance of community engagement.
“I need to understand what my area needs, and then also make sure that I’m listening to the needs of others,” Edgely said. “Policy is about finding solutions that don’t negatively impact your neighbor. To do that, I have to talk with everyone—other council members, community members—to learn what they need.”
Edgely believes her background will be an asset to the city council.
“I think my personal experience in Boulder County and working in other cities, but living in Longmont, offers some perspective,” Edgely said. “I’ve worked in Boulder and Denver and listened to the issues that affect those areas, and I think that gives me a unique view.”
With a pool of interested candidates having submitted applications by the January 8 deadline, the Council is set to interview applicants in a public meeting on January 21, with the final selection and swearing-in of the new representative scheduled for January 28.
Longmont residents can share their thoughts on candidates like Devin Edgely by addressing the council in person at the next meeting tonight, January 14, or emailing them beforehand. The open forum to address the city council previously scheduled for January 21, will be replaced with an interview session of candidates and the appointment of a selected candidate.