Nicole Speer, 46, is the daughter of an immigrant who grew up in two different worlds. Speer split her time living between Portland, Oregon and Luxembourg. “You learn to have a broader perspective. You also learn what it feels like to not quite fit in anywhere,” she said.
Speer has a long history with the University of Colorado and supporting the Boulder community. Speer met with me for a Zoom interview as she had contracted COVID-19 but was more than willing to spend around 45 minutes talking to a student journalist, showing her commitment to the Boulder community.
Speer moved to Boulder in 2005 to pursue her postdoctoral research at the University of Colorado. In 2011, Speer became a research associate at CU. Within a year, Speer became the Director of Research Services at the brain imaging research facility in the Institute for Cognitive Sciences at CU. Speer still holds the position and plans to maintain it throughout her mayoral post should she be elected.
Speer is a member of several social justice organizations, such as the First Congregational United Church of Christ, the NAACP Boulder County Branch, the Democratic Socialists of America, and United Campus Workers Colorado.
Joseph Stein, at the Boulder Democratic Socialists of America, said, “Dr. Speer regularly shows up to support workers in Boulder and the surrounding region, whether by appearing on picket lines or by advocating.”
In addition to her scientific expertise at CU and her advocacy work, Speer is a Boulder City Council member. In 2021, she was elected to the Boulder City Council, which helped her prepare for her mayoral run.
As a City Council member, Speer aided in many accomplishments. She was influential in creating day services for the unhoused and incorporating equity into planning for flood mitigation. One of the accomplishments Speer is most proud of is moving City Council elections to even years.
Fewer people vote in odd-year elections. Speer said, “One of the things that really has an impact on how many people are voting in local elections is when those elections happen.”
As mayor, Speers wants to focus mainly on inclusion, homelessness, housing, and wages, which will affect other social issues like climate change. She emphasizes how all social issues are interconnected.
“When we are addressing the needs of the people who are the most vulnerable,” Speer said, “then we actually all benefit.”
By increasing the minimum wage, “people can earn enough money and actually live in Boulder and not have to commute in, we start decreasing our emissions,” Speer said. “All these issues will come about when people can actually afford to meet their basic needs.”
One of her main goals is to raise the minimum wage from the current $13.65 to $17.29. “To raise the minimum wage will have a positive impact on not just housing and homelessness but also mental health and addiction because poverty is a big risk factor for mental health and addiction,” Speer said.
She will also fight for City Council members to earn a living wage. Boulder City Council members make $12,000 a year for around thirty hours a week of work. “We’re not going to get more of the people that need to be here without giving them a living wage,” Speer said.
Speer puts emphasis on equity and inclusion. Speer is the second person to be on the City Council of Boulder who openly identifies as LGBTQ+. “I’m certainly the first to try to be mayor, but in a city that has rainbow flags all over…the pushback has been really interesting to see. I think that is really reflective of a lot of people’s experiences in Boulder. We say we’re really progressive, but that’s not the experience.”
If Speer becomes mayor, she will leave the office at the age of 50. When asked about Speer’s political plans after being mayor, she said, “If you’re doing a good job, you are creating more leaders, giving people the skills that they need to thrive.” Speer would not participate in another election but would continue to support politics. “We do not need more 50-year-old-plus people being in office. I feel so strongly that it needs to be younger people stepping into these positions and more diverse people. The decisions affect them.”
As election day is quickly approaching, I asked Speer’s campaign manager, Rachel Amaru, why people should vote for Speer. Amaru said, “Nicole is deeply vested in equity and is truly a champion of the people. She is a natural leader and has the extraordinary ability to take people much less experienced under her wing, nurture them, and really let them use their voice. In my eyes, it is the greatest gift a leader could have.”
Visit Nicole Speer’s campaign website for more information: https://nicoleforboulder.com/