If Tuesday’s election proved anything, it’s the adage of politics making strange bedfellows.

A full frontal corporate assault did not dissuade Longmont voters from passing Ballot Question 2A, concerning the city’s right to do what it pleases with the fiber-optic loop it owns.

This time, 2A passed by roughly a 60-40 margin. Last time the issue came up, in 2009, 56 percent of Longmont voters said “no.”

This time, lobbyists for the telecommunications industry spent even more than they did last time — about $300,000 — in trying to convince residents that the city having control over its own property was somehow “risky.” Obviously, the lobbyists, including the euphemistically monikered Americans for Prosperity, were only concerned about the welfare of Longmont residents and the health of the local economy. They spent so much money to show just how concerned they were.

But the majority of the voters weren’t buying what they were selling. People had the audacity to think for themselves and make up their own minds.

Personally, I would thank the anti-2A folks for pouring so much money into the local economy, except most of its spending was elsewhere. They did pop for a few ads in this newspaper, though, so for that they have my gratitude.

What was interesting was who was backing 2A — it was a veritable political rainbow. I know city politics are supposed to be nonpartisan, but I also know they’re not. Certain people tend to fall a certain way on most issues, given their ideology.

Most issues, but not all — 2A was an example of the exception.

Many people who you would typically expect to find defending corporate rights above all else, and criticizing the inefficiency of government, were quite vocal in support of 2A.

As they should have been. Ask a local businessperson how Longmont having its own electric utility is working out for them. We have some of the cheapest rates in the country.

It takes leadership to stand up against big business lobbyists to act on behalf of what you think is right, not what’s going to raise you the most amount of campaign cash the next time around. How very, very refreshing it was to see, and I hope it’s a lesson that spreads far and wide.

Tony Kindelspire can be reached at 303-684-5291 or tkindelspire@times-call.com.