Editor’s Note: April’s Coming, No Fooling
Denver Is At A Crossroads; Get Ready For A Historic Election
By Cara DeGette
Editor, GPHN
Whoever is not running for mayor of Denver, raise your hand.
That became a running joke as 2022 drew to a close — and as the number of people announcing they want to run Colorado’s largest city began to swell, then balloon. As of press time, the count is 25 — with three more months to go until the April 4 municipal election.
After 12 years as mayor, Michael B. Hancock is term-limited from the office, and a number of local politicians are making their move (click here for a current list of candidates for mayor).
As Hancock’s time in office draws to a close, perceptions of the state of the city are far bleaker then the joke about who wants to be the next mayor. Denver’s continuing crisis of homelessness, along with a lack of affordable housing and rising crime, are on peoples’ minds. So too is the palpable perception among regular citizens that the current administration is operating at the behest of special interests — specifically deep-pocket developers and lobbyists who are calling the shots at city hall.
In coming months, expect all of these issues to be front and center — including the ongoing controversy of the Park Hill Golf Course property. Last year Denver voters overwhelmingly approved further protections for the city’s conservation easement on the 155-acre property. But thanks to a persistent developer and his friends at city hall, this April Denver voters will again be asked to weigh in on the future of the easement. Other citywide referendums and amendments will also likely be sent to voters.
Denver’s strong-mayor form of government means whoever holds the position wields a tremendous amount of power. The job comes with a current salary of $188,429, and loosely includes everything from being responsible for overseeing the police department to making sure potholes are filled.
The mayor appoints 25 department heads that oversee parks and recreation, community planning, the airport, police, fire and public safety, as well as transportation, human services, economic development and a multitude of other services. Needless to say, it’s a full-time job.
But mayor is not the only game in play come April. Denver’s 13-member city council is also likely to shift. Several current members are also term-limited, are not running again, or are being challenged. The tax-paid salary for city council members is currently $96,557, and whoever is appointed council president makes another $12,000 on top of that.
Longtime Councilman Chris Herndon, whose district included Park Hill as well as Central Park, is term-limited. Because of last year’s redistricting, two council districts will include parts of Park Hill. Check out pages 6-7 for an introduction to the candidates who want to represent the neighborhood at city hall — and for the map showing the newly-redrawn council districts.
In all, nearly 50 people are currently running citywide for council — including nine who are running for two open at-large seats. The two who are elected will represent the city as a whole.
Penfield W. Tate III, an attorney, open space advocate and former state senator and representative from Park Hill, announced in November that he is an at-large candidate. Tate is also an award-winning columnist for the Greater Park Hill News; his column is on hiatus while he is running for office. His campaign website is tateforcitycouncilatlarge.com
Other candidates who are running for at-large seats include:
Will Chan: Currently works for the city’s economic development office. He grew up in west Denver. willchanfordenver.com
Dominic Angelo Diaz: At 24, Diaz hopes to become the youngest member of city council. He currently works for the city in the office of children’s affairs. diazforden.com
Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez: Currently is a state legislator, representing House District 4. serenafordenver.com
Tim Hoffman: A prosecutor at the Denver District Attorney’s Office.
timfordenver.com
Travis Leiker: Is a senior director of development at the University of Colorado. Is also president of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, a registered neighborhood organization. travisleiker.com
Sarah Parady: An attorney, and self-described advocate for economic justice and workers’ rights. sarah4denver.com
Jeff Walker: Has served on several boards and committees, including RTD, the Denver planning board and the Blueprint Denver task force.
walkerfordenver.com
Marty Zimmerman: A nonprofit business consultant. His website indicates he was born in Denver and is a graduate of Manual High School. martyfordenver.com
Make sure to check back over the next months, as we continue to cover these races and city issues.