Scientist.
Housing Advocate.
Longmonter.
Scientific problem solver by profession. Pushing for a more walkable, affordable Longmont by avocation.
About
Shakeel is a scientist who specializes in solving high tech manufacturing problems where all the information isn’t knowable and time is valuable. The only way to proceed is to try something, measure the results, and adjust.
He’s working towards a Longmont which is affordable, safe for all transportation users, and never loses it’s civic pride. Shakeel lives in Old Town with his wife and dog, and calls his parents every Saturday and Sunday morning.
Shakeel works for a space company on problems there’s no recipe to solve. He has a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and has started 2 businesses and 1 non-profit in Longmont.
Currently
Since 2026
Ranked Choice Voting for Longmont
Campaigning to bring higher quality election methods to Longmont so that voters can vote for who they really support, not just who they think can win.
Since 2025
SideDish Longmont — Political Correspondent
Monthly guest on Longmont’s best podcast with everything you want to know and very little that you need to know. Bringing the stories on what city government is up to.
Since 2026
Visible Government League
Working to protect the privacy rights of every Longmonter against intrusive government and corporate surveillance.
Since 2023
LAUNCH Longmont Housing — co-founder & former president
Grassroots group pushing for a Longmont that stays walkable, bikeable, and served by real public transit as it grows.
Since 2021
Longmont Community Foundation — board member
$2.4 million in annual giving within the St Vrain Valley supporting local non-profits and direct giving.
Track Record
Ran for Mayor of Longmont — 2025
Solutions based campaign for housing affordability, effective and accountable government, and local prosperity through self reliance. I didn’t win the election, but my ideas did.
Professional Standards Unit — 2021 – 2026
City of Longmont body reviewing personnel misconduct investigations to uphold public trust.
Eliminated residential parking minimums
Behind-the-scenes advocacy for award-winning policy that removed parking minimums from Longmont’s land development code.
Legalized accessory dwelling units citywide
Pushed to make it easy to build an ADU on every single-family lot in Longmont — a naturally affordable form of housing that lets families build local wealth.
Amended the Longmont city charter
Campaign Manager for 2020 ballot measure 3D to change the Longmont charter so that a future arts and entertainment center will be financially viable.
Longmont Observer, Board of Advisors — 2018 – 2020
Moderated city council debates across three election cycles and a U.S. House debate. Wrote a regular column on local and national politics.
Longmont Public Media, founding member — 2020 – 2023
Helped build a community media makerspace for local TV, film, and podcasts, and served on its Board of Advisors.
Data & Writing (Work in progress)
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Longmont Utility Bill Analyzer
See why your City of Longmont water & electric bill changed. Upload 2 or more bill PDFs — everything is processed in your browser…