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Council trio says Denver, not Senate, needs mayor

By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 23, 2008 at 12:33 p.m.

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Mayor John Hickenlooper is considered a leading candidate to fill Ken Salazar's upcoming U.S. Senate seat. Hickenlooper said Monday morning the positions of Denver Mayor and U.S. Senator are "two of the greatest jobs on earth."

Video Video: Mayor John Hickenlooper is considered a leading candidate to fill Ken Salazar's upcoming U.S. Senate seat. Hickenlooper said Monday morning the positions of Denver Mayor and U.S. Senator are "two of the greatest jobs on earth." Watch »

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At least three Denver City Council members raised concerns Tuesday about the political fallout if Gov. Bill Ritter were to appoint Mayor John Hickenlooper as Colorado's next U.S. senator.

But Ritter's spokesman, Evan Dreyer, said the repercussions in Denver won't be a factor in the governor's decision-making.

"The only consideration is who will best serve all of the people of Colorado in the United States Senate," Dreyer said.

Hickenlooper told the Rocky Mountain News on Monday that he's interested in replacing U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, who was tapped for interior secretary by President-elect Barack Obama.

"To work in Washington at this critical time, at this moment in history, would be incredibly exciting and challenging and I think rewarding," Hickenlooper said.

But Hickenlooper, who met with Ritter recently to discuss Salazar's seat, also said he's in an "enviable position" where he can't lose.

"I'm one of those people that I almost can't wait to get to work," he said.

Council President Jeanne Robb and Councilmen Michael Hancock and Charlie Brown said a Hickenlooper appointment could be disruptive for Denver, especially during these tough economic times.

"The mayor's office just announced budget cuts," Robb said. "The mayor just announced speeding up what we can in terms of capital improvements through our bond issue" from last year.

Brown said a new mayor would have little time to put together a team and start running the city.

"I still think (Hickenlooper) has a good solid vision for Denver, and there's still a lot to do," he said. "We need his leadership now."

Even though qualified candidates have emerged to replace Hickenlooper should Ritter appoint him, Robb said an election would slow things down.

In addition, the field could be crowded, and the highest vote- getter would be the winner.

"You could have someone elected to the seat - I don't want to say through a fluke - but with far less than a majority of the voters," Robb said.

Among the council members interested in running for mayor is Hancock, who said Denver would need someone who could maintain continuity of leadership at City Hall.

"For someone to come in and propose wholesale changes, like a new administration, would be disastrous for us," he said. "We don't have that kind of time."

There's also the possibility of two elections, one to replace the mayor and another to fill a council seat if a council member were to be elected mayor.

"Do we need to be spending money like that right now? For a fiscally conservative mayor, that's not very conservative," Robb said.

The Denver Elections Division is starting to plan for various scenarios, said Nancy Reubert, a spokeswoman for the clerk and recorder's office, which oversees the elections division.

"You have to talk about these things in case they occur so that you're not caught off guard," she said.

Comments

  • December 23, 2008

    12:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    dirty writes:

    Peter priniciple at work.

  • December 23, 2008

    1:25 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    spyder writes:

    Just what we need in the senate - another democrat that see's nothing wrong with giving raises to his inner circle, but insisting that the work and file take pay cuts.
    Just what Tax Critter, I am sure, is salivating for.

  • December 23, 2008

    1:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    At least Tax Ritter is "smart" enough not to ask for his fee up front ;-) Or maybe he learned from Blago and asked one-on-one and in private.

    Scott

  • December 23, 2008

    2:12 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    LadyBird112 writes:

    This is one Dem who would rather not have this happen.

  • December 23, 2008

    2:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SlouchingTowardBoulder writes:

    Hick would be getting out of Denver at a good time what with the huge budget problems that the city and county faces. He can take this financial irresponsibility to Congress where it will play quite nicely. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news...

  • December 23, 2008

    3:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    llaura33 writes:

    I think Hick would make a great addition to D.C. He has reached across the aisles/city lines here in Colorado and brought a spirit of cooperation among the surrounding communities. I'm a Republican and I'd hate to see him go because I think he is a great mayor, but I think he would do a great amount of good in D.C.

  • December 23, 2008

    4:36 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    monty writes:

    I have alot of respect for Hick. It was only about 2 years ago that as mayor, he didn't want to run for future political office. He was happy running this city. He is a savy business man, he appeals to both parties, and he has done so much to clean up this city - believing in cost effectiveness. I live in Curtice Park and can see the efforts that Hick has put forth. If he leaves his mayoral duties I will be remiss; however; to have a strong non politicol in DC for this state - I'm all aboard.

  • December 23, 2008

    4:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rage_against_the_stupid writes:

    According to the RMN, this is an Hispanic seat, how can Ritter even consider such a politically incorrect move. Well I guess he will have to be replaced by an Hispanic. That will the make the race obsessed democrats a little more comfortable.

  • December 23, 2008

    6:14 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    AC writes:

    A Denver mayor will never be elected statewide to the US Senate. Many tried, starting with Robert Speer, who failed. Quigg Newton was the last to try and he never made it past the Democratic primary. Ritter needs to think about who is electable statewide in 2010 for the full term.

  • December 23, 2008

    7:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    HopiMedicineMan writes:

    A legislative position requires no accountability. A mayor job when the economy is sliding into oblivion, is a loser. What Hick did to Gaetano's is beyond forgiveness. The best possibility is the god of the Democratic party, Satan himself.

  • December 23, 2008

    8:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DougH writes:

    A mayor from Denver would be a great idea. It is too bad that the capital city of Colorado, the heart of the Rocky Mountain region has not had a U.S. Senator. There is no telling how much has been lost for Colorado over the years because of the lack of a Senator from the state's largest city and business hub.

    Hickenlooper is smart , knows how to get things done and is not an extremist on either side.

  • December 24, 2008

    8:45 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    skleepit writes:

    The democrates have no real viable person to be a Senator. Salazar was an incredible disappointment. Does anyone remember what he said he would do prior to being elected? Ken learned quickly that to get ahead in Washington you do what you are told. and he took all of his campaign promises and tossed them aside and did what the democratic machine told him to do. So, with this is mind, why don't we just leave the seat vacant. It wouldn't matter who they put in there, they will become a puppet in a very short while.

    Don't worry though...."Hope and change" are coming!! God, I can't believe you all fell for this new idiot.