The Golden Road To City Hall

Since 1959, All Paths To The Denver Mayor’s Office Wind Through Park Hill

By Cara DeGette

Editor, GPHN

It’s a fairly easy task to run for Mayor of Denver. You’ve got to be 30 years old, a qualified elector, and a resident of the city for two years. Living in Park Hill at some point in your lifetime isn’t a requirement. But, dating back to 1959, it’s been a point of fact.

As documented in historian Phil Goodstein’s seminal book Park Hill Promise, every elected* mayor of Denver — from Richard “Dick’” Batterton (1959-63) to the current mayor, Michael B. Hancock — has lived in Park Hill.

In his usual colorful prose, Goodstein devotes an entire chapter to the “Mayors of Park Hill” — detailing the various triumphs and foibles of past city leaders, as well as other sundry politicos who cut their teeth in the neighborhood.

Not all of these men — Denver has not yet elected a woman mayor — have lived in the neighborhood while holding office. Some had the luck of growing up in the neighborhood or living here as young adults before entering politics. Some moved to the neighborhood after their election to the office. (Indeed, in recent years, Park Hill has become a must-live-there destination for some politicos hot on the move.)

In an interview, Goodstein admits the past trend may not carry as much gravity as all that.

“To be honest, I think that a lot of it is coincidence,” he said.

In his book, Goodstein describes Batterton, who led the city from 1959-63, as the last Republican mayor of Denver. Though the office is officially nonpartisan, Democrats have long dominated city hall, with only the occasional registered Republican serving on city council. Batterton lived at 2009 Hudson St. (an address that has also been designated as 5439 Montview Blvd.) and co-owned a car dealership on Colfax and Gilpin. Like many car salesmen, Batterton cultivated a winking, folksy manner — a sort of, “Do I got a deal for you!” style, Goodstein said.

Once elected, Batterton eagerly promoted building Interstate 70 through existing neighborhoods, forever altering Globeville, Elyria and Swansea. Under Batterton Denver also achieved a dubious honor as the burglary capital of North America — a record aided by culprits who also happened to be Denver police officers. The police burglary scandal helped spur Batterton’s defeat in 1963 by Thomas G. Currigan.

Lived here, then moved

Tom Currigan, mayor from 1963-1968, grew up at 2668 Clermont St., and politics ran in his family. After World War II and attending college at Notre Dame, Currigan returned to Park Hill, and lived at 2925 Ivy St.  By the time he ousted Battington, Currigan no longer lived in Park Hill. He had moved to 444 S. Oneida, in the Virginia Vale neighborhood.

William H. “Bill” McNichols, Jr., who succeeded Currigan, also came from a family of politicians. His father was a longtime city auditor and his brother had been governor. McNichols had a couple of Park Hill addresses — including 3395 Grape St. and 2115 Quince St. Like Currigan, McNichols no longer lived in the neighborhood by the time he became mayor. He had moved to the Montclair neighborhood.

McNichols won three terms as mayor and was ultimately defeated by the Blizzard of 1982. The massive Christmas storm dropped two feet of snow and paralyzed the city for days. Voters blamed the mayor for failing to clear the streets and so they cleared him out of office the following spring.

The next mayor, Federico Peña, grew up in Texas. He landed in Denver as a young man — not in Park Hill but as a proud Northsider. His campaign motto, “Imagine a Great City,” proved to be a winner, and Peña took office in 1983. He didn’t move to Park Hill until shortly after his reelection four years later. That’s when he married his then-new-bride Ellen Hart, and the couple settled in a home at 1750 Leyden St.

After his second term, Peña moved to Washington and served as Secretary of Transportation under President Bill Clinton.

Webb, Hickenlooper, Hancock

As a young man, Wellington Webb, Peña’s successor, had several Park Hill addresses — including a house near 24th and Olive Street and one at 36th and Eudora Street. Like Currigan and McNichols, by the time Webb became mayor, he had already moved out of the neighborhood. He and his wife Wilma — who also has strong ties to Park Hill — have lived in the Whittier neighborhood just west of City Park, for decades.

After Webb’s three terms, John Hickenlooper was elected mayor in 2003. Hickenlooper had arrived in Denver 22 years earlier and worked as a petroleum geologist. After losing his job, he opened the Wynkoop Brewery in what was then the dilapidated neighborhood of Lower Downtown. He became a vanguard in the efforts to redevelop LoDo, where he lived. Three years after becoming mayor, Hickenlooper moved to Park Hill. Now a U.S. Senator, he still owns his big white house at the northeast corner of Montview and Fairfax Street.

Which brings us to Michael B. Hancock, Denver’s current mayor. As a baby, Hancock and his family moved to Denver from Killeen, Texas. Once here, the family moved frequently, Goodstein says, including to several Park Hill addresses. Hancock eventually settled in Green Valley Ranch, where he lived when he became mayor in 2011.

Current ties to the neighborhood

After 12 years, Hancock is term-limited from running again. So far, 25 would-be successors have announced their candidacies. How many have lived at some point in time in Park Hill is not entirely clear. But here are a few known candidate ties to the neighborhood:

Of the 25, two currently live in Park Hill — Leslie Herod and Jesse Lashawn Parrish.

Another high-profile candidate — anti-gang activist Terrance Roberts — grew up in Park Hill and has spent much of his life working in the neighborhood.

Mike Johnston, who lives in Central Park, is a former state senator whose district included much of Park Hill. He located his senate headquarters at 33rd and Hudson Street, in the Holly Square.

Kelly Brough hasn’t lived in Park Hill but notes both her campaign manager, Sheila MacDonald, and field director Hashim Coates, are Park Hill natives. Her campaign counsel, Trey Rogers, lives in Park Hill. Also, her daughter attended Denver School of the Arts in Park Hill.

In one of his campaign ads, Chris Hansen’s son wears a red McAuliffe International School pullover. McAuliffe is on the Smiley Campus in Park Hill.

Come April, if the final victor does not live in Park Hill, will the next mayor move to the neighborhood and continue Denver’s 64-year running streak? That’s anyone’s guess.

* Guillermo “Bill” Vidal is the notable exception to the continuous Denver string of Park Hill mayors. Vidal served as mayor for six months in 2011, after John Hickenlooper resigned when he was elected governor. Vidal, who lived in Hilltop, has not lived in Park Hill. However, he was also not elected to the office.

From Bear Valley To Virginia Vale

These 25 People Want To Be The Next Mayor Of Denver. Here Are The Neighborhoods Where They Currently Live

At press time 25 candidates have entered the race with hopes to become the 46th mayor of Denver.

Three of those candidates are currently in the state legislature, with no intention of stepping down while running. That means that, when the session convenes this month, three of 100 state lawmakers will be representing their constituents at the state Capitol, while at the same time vying to become the next mayor of Colorado’s largest city. One of those mayoral candidates is Rep. Leslie Herod, who currently represents Park Hill.

Several of the candidates are repeat contenders, who are hoping the second, and even third time proves to be a charm with voters. Others have tossed their hats in the ring for the first time, ready to give running for mayor of Denver a whirl.

The following is a breakdown of announced candidates — along with the neighborhood in Denver where they currently live.

High Profile Candidates

• Kelly Brough, former Chief of Staff for Mayor Hickenlooper, Chamber of Commerce CEO: Cory/Merrill

• Lisa Calderón, Emerge Colorado CEO, former mayoral candidate: Cole

• Mike Johnston, former state senator, former CEO of Gary Investments: Central Park

• Terrance Roberts, Anti-gang activist: Capitol Hill

• Ean Tafoya, Environmental activist: Bear Valley

Sitting Legislators/Lawmakers

• State Sen. Chris Hansen: Montclair

• State Rep. Leslie Herod: Park Hill

• Denver Councilwoman Debbie Ortega: Highland

• State Rep. Alex Valdez: Downtown

First-Time and Returning Candidates

• Paul Fiorino: Five Points

• Marcus Giavanni: University Hills

• Danny Lopez: Harvey Park South

• Ken Simpson: Cherry Creek

• Abass Yaya Bamba: Virginia Vale

• Alex Cowans: Elyria Swansea

• Aldwyn L. Gardner II, Member of the Denver Civil Service Commission: Central Park

• Sylvia Herring: Clayton

• Jesse Lashawn Parris: Park Hill

• Aurelio Martinez, Former boxer: Five Points

• Trinidad Rodriguez, Investor: Country Club

• Andre Rougeot, Camping-ban proponent: Highland

• David Stevens, Language school founder: Central Park

• Robert Treta: Sunnyside

• James Walsh, University of Colorado Denver political scientist: Sunnyside

• Thomas Wolf, Investment banker: Cherry Creek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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