News: Mike Johnston Wins Big
Denver’s New Mayor Announces Transition Team And Committees, Vows To End Homelessness In Four Years
By Cara DeGette
GPHN Editor
On July 18, Mike Johnston will be mayor of Denver.
The former state senator, 48, beat former Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce CEO Kelly Brough in the June 6 runoff — continuing the city’s 164-year tradition of never electing a female mayor. Johnston won with 55 percent of the vote, to Brough’s 45 percent.
The final vote was decisive, but observers note that, with just a smidge more than a 31 percent turnout in the mayor’s race, Johnston’s victory — representing 17 percent support from all eligible voters — is not exactly a mandate. In the end, though, Johnston beat out 16 other candidates on the ballot in a campaign season that has stretched more than half a year.
The June 6 runoff also included two city council races whose territory includes portions of Park Hill. In District 8, Shontel Lewis nudged out competitor Brad Revare 51-49. And in one of the most watched — and most expensive — races, Darrell Watson handily beat incumbent Candi CdeBaca with 61 percent of the vote.
Citywide voter turnout may have been unexceptional overall — at least compared to countries like Sweden and Turkey, where participation can climb to nearly 90 percent. However voter turnout in Park Hill ranked among the highest in Denver — which is common in most elections.
According to data from the city clerk and recorder, voters in South Park Hill ranged from 56-68 percent turnout and North Park Hill had a 42-62 percent turnout. Northeast Park Hill voters turned out in the 32-34 percent range.
By contrast, only 14 percent of registered voters cast their ballots in some Far Northeast neighborhood precincts. Parts of Montbello had only 14 percent turnout, and roughly 18-22 percent in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods. In Central Park, the highest turnout was a precinct that recorded 55 percent.
Citywide, the highest percentage of voters who cast ballots — by far — were people over 65 years old.
Three days after the runoff election, Johnston announced his team that will help him lead the transition as he builds a new administration. The committee, called Vibrant Denver, is being led by Ami Desai, a former educator and the chief operating officer of Gary Community Ventures, the foundation Johnston mostly recently headed.
Committee co-chairs include former Denver Mayor Federico Peña and state Sen. Julie Gonzales. Downtown Denver Partnership CEO Kourtny Garrett, former Denver Post Editor Greg Moore, and Makisha Boothe, the founder of Sistahbiz Global Network, are also co-chairs. State Rep. Leslie Herod, who endorsed Johnston after her unsuccessful bid for mayor, will oversee Johnston’s inauguration.
A week later the mayor-elect announced 28 transition committees that will focus on specific areas — from arts and venues to children’s affairs to DIA to housing stability to parks and recreation to public health. Each committee is composed of two to three co-chairs and 10 to 25 members. The complete list is at VibrantDenver.com.
Johnston, who lives in Central Park, was last in office in 2014. He ran unsuccessful bids for governor and for the U.S. Senate, and has never worked or held office in municipal government. As mayor, he’ll oversee the largest city in Colorado, with more than 11,000 employees.