I’m running to serve Boulder.

I’m running to serve Boulder.

Unlike others, I’m not allied to any one side—but rather will focus on actual solutions instead of self-righteous opinions or tweets. That said, I’m not wishy-washy moderate: I regard…

• homeless solutions/public safety (both are vital, together),

• climate crisis (Muni, alas, and: wildfires, toxic smoke, transportation, electrification, renewables, plastic, regenerative ag, mature trees), &

• affordability/local business

  …as urgent, requiring focus.

  Want Boulder to improve? That’ll take a few of us on Council working to bring people together through tough issues with humble listening & bold leadership.

I grew up here. I was born in the Boulder Hospital we’ve just demolished. Julie Carpenter delivered me..!

I founded a 22-year-old successful local company with millions of int’l readers + up to 37 staff thanks to the advice & support of this special community. I’m comfortable running and growing a business, managing a team, and balancing risk with stability, values and mission with practicality and opportunity.

I’ve served on the board of New Era Colorado (for many years), the Boulder Co-op, Nude Foods Market, & the New Local among others. My parents were Buddhist students, my mom a teacher at Naropa & other schools & my dad a journalist. Raised solo by my mom, we lost my childhood home because even then we couldn’t afford the balloon payment. Things are much worse now, affordability-wise.

I’m a daily cyclist (haven’t owned a car for 15 years), & bought a home with $500 in my account (& managed—barely—to keep it out of foreclosure. The bank still owns most of it).

I’m a yogi (stiff), meditator (steady), author (eco/local-printing, best-selling), climber (mediocre), environmentalist (avid), & my rescue pup Winfield would love to meet you (if you have treats).

I love Boulder, & I’m frustrated & saddened by the direction its taken over the past 15 years. I’m running not because this is an easy job (it’s not) or pays well (it should pay a living wage so folks who aren’t rich/retired/or workaholics running on fumes can run) but because, simply,

I care.

While Boulder is still in many ways amazing, we can and must take urgent action to secure a happy, safe, healthy future for all, including our children’s generation. So while we have serious challenges, I am fundamentally excited & optimistic to return more listening, caring, & practical, eco, forward innovation to our dear community.

Let’s make Boulder bold again. Let’s make Boulder accessible again. Let’s make Boulder fun again—for all of us.


~ Waylon Lewis, Independent (well, I’m a bleeding-heart liberal, but I’m independent of our factions in town that keep us mired in this costly, awful status quo)

Waylon Lewis is the founder of Elephant Journal, a leading independent web site with millions of readers & 13 million social fans, host of Walk the Talk Show (where he's featured 1,000s of guests, experts on climate, politicians, meditation teachers, athletes), & author of two books (the first was among the best-selling ever at our Boulder Book Store). He's a mediocre climber, daily cyclist, vegan, and guardian to Winfield, a half-trouble all-cute rescue pup. Born & raised in Boulder, he's served on numerous boards including New Era Colorado. He's won numerous awards for his work, including Naturally Boulder's entrepreneur of the year. If elected, he'll work to take us beyond conflict culture to actual solutions.