It's the Hickenlooper waltz

Voters re-elect mayor, council incumbents

Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News

Published May 2, 2007 at midnight

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Mayor John Hickenlooper won re-election outright Tuesday, sailing toward a second term with a staggering number of votes.

"The fact is, no matter what came at us, we never quit," he said. "We always worked hard. We tried to always tell the truth. And I think people care about that."

In the race for the city's first elected clerk and recorder, voters overwhelmingly chose Stephanie O'Malley, daughter of former Mayor Wellington Webb.

Incumbents fared well Tuesday.

Auditor Dennis Gallagher trounced opponent Bill Wells.

City Council members Marcia Johnson, Peggy Lehmann and Judy Montero won handily.

Councilman Doug Linkhart topped the three-way race for the two at-large council seats.

The other at-large incumbent, Carol Boigon, was leading challenger Carol E. Campbell for the second seat.

Tuesday's election was low-key. Hickenlooper spent most of the day in meetings with his staff. His challenger, Danny Lopez, worked in his office at the city's Wastewater Management Division.

But the day had some memorable moments.

Some specifics:

• A postal worker drove up to the Denver Election Commission office in his postal truck and dropped off his ballot in the all-mail contest.

"We thought it was kind of weird," worker Judy Hodges said.

• Voters complained that a pro-immigrant march prevented them from dropping off their ballots at commission headquarters.

"What incompetent idiot approved a parade down our street on Election Day?" asked Election Commissioner Susan Rogers. "Do you realize they're blaming us for it? Like we approve parades now, apparently. There's a posting on (a political blog) accusing us of disenfranchising voters by having a parade through here."

• People did double takes when they saw Gov. Bill Ritter standing in line at the Election Commission waiting to apply for an emergency ballot.

His ballot was mailed to his home in Platt Park. Ritter and his family moved into the Governor's Mansion this year, but he hadn't updated his address.

Ritter posed for pictures with election workers who were sporting festive boas and cowboy hats. Tuesday was "hat day" for commission workers, who wore exotic headgear while counting ballots.

Runoffs will shape council

Three Denver City Council seats are headed for a June 5 runoff because no candidate got more than 50 percent of the vote. The apparent top two finishers in each district and their positions on issues are:

About the candidate

Paul Lopez, 28, grew up on Denver's west side and went on to become the student body president at the University of Colorado at Denver. Lopez now works as an organizer for the Service Employees International Union.

Biggest challenge for Denver?

"As many places like downtown and Cherry Creek enjoy economic prosperity, other neighborhoods are losing grocery stores and light-rail stations and economic development."

Do you support a property tax increase to repair city assets?

"I would consider funding sources within the existing budget before a tax increase."

What would you do about gang crime in Denver?

"I am co-facilitating a citywide effort to reduce gang activity."

About the candidate

JoAnn Phillips, 58, is a former City Council aide and past president of the Villa Park Neighborhood Association.

Biggest challenge for Denver?

"A lack of infrastructure improvements, cleanness and increased graffiti plague neighborhoods."

Do you support a property tax increase to repair city assets?

"All resources must be explored before any talk of a property tax increase."

What would you do about gang crime in Denver?

"Without community involvement, this issue cannot be resolved."

About the candidate

Chris Nevitt, 45, is a political economist and former executive director of the Front Range Economic Strategy Center.

Biggest challenge for Denver?

"Our challenge is a happy one: growth and prosperity, but to manage it to the long-term benefit of all residents and existing neighborhoods."

Do you support a property tax increase to repair city assets?

"Yes. My commitment as a public servant is to ensure the greatest long-term value and economic return to taxpayers."

What would you do about gang crime in Denver?

"I've been endorsed by Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey as someone he knows will work hard from the City Council to support his efforts to crack down hard on gangs."

About the candidate

Shelly Watters, 61, is a former aide to at-large Denver City Councilwoman Carol Boigon and former Councilwoman Joyce Foster.

Biggest challenge for Denver?

"Keeping families here. Families need to feel that Denver is safe, has great public schools, and housing is affordable."

Do you support a property tax increase to repair city assets?

"Yes. We cannot continue relying on bond projects every 10 years to play catch-up with our infrastructure needs."

What would you do about gang crime in Denver?

"Recreation centers need to be more flexible with their hours. I support District Attorney Mitch Morrissey's gang-prevention unit, as well as the Denver Police Department's expansion of the 'Broken Windows' policy."

About the candidate

Sharon Bailey, 53, is a former member of the Denver school board and a manager in the Denver Auditor's Office. She grew up near City Park.

Biggest challenge for Denver?

"Increasing the quality of our educational system."

Do you support a property tax increase to repair city assets?

"Yes. I support the proposed bond campaign to address long-neglected capital improvement needs of the city."

What would you do about gang crime in Denver?

"There needs to be a balanced approach of enforcement, intervention and prevention."

About the candidate

Carla Madison, 51, is the president of the City Park West Neighborhood Association. She worked on new zoning to protect the character of the area.

Biggest challenge for Denver?

"Balancing new development, affordable housing and established neighborhood character."

Do you support a property tax increase to repair city assets?

"I would not want to see a property tax increase, though that may be part of the proposed solution."

What would you do about gang crime in Denver?

"I'll restore former Mayor Webb's Safe City youth programs that awarded after-school and summer youth programs funds to provide alternatives to gangs."

- Stuart Steers and Daniel Chacon Rocky Mountain News

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099

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