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City paying top dollar for DNC emergency chief

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

Published May 13, 2008 at 11 p.m.

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Planning for the worst during the Democratic National Convention requires one of the best, and that expertise doesn't come cheap.

Denver is paying $225 an hour - or $9,000 a week - to Ellis M. Stanley Sr., an emergency management veteran who has been tapped to serve as director of DNC planning for the city's Office of Emergency Management.

Stanley, who has overseen planning for major events including the 1988 Democratic convention and the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, stands to make up to $280,000 while under contract with the city through August.

In addition, the city is reimbursing Stanley for lodging and a rental car and providing him Southwest Airlines travel vouchers.

Sue Cobb, spokeswoman for Mayor John Hickenlooper, said Stanley is leasing an apartment for $2,250 a month, which she said is cheaper than a hotel. She could not immediately provide rental car costs.

Stanley has used four travel vouchers, Cobb said. Southwest provided the vouchers to Denver in exchange for advertising at Red Rocks some years ago and the rates were locked in, she said.

"While the logical comparison would be to the cost of an airline ticket, this is substantially cheaper because we locked the rate in a long time ago," she said.

Stanley's contract is being funded through a $50 million federal grant the city received to cover DNC security costs, she said.

There are very few people who have the "experience in local government with events of this magnitude," said Kelly Brough, Hickenlooper's chief of staff.

"We take very seriously the expenditures we make for anything, and so I do understand that for all of us this is a lot of money. But it's also a very, very important job," Brough said.

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099

Comments

  • May 14, 2008

    3:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    Damn Stanley, at 280,000 dollar salary you should run for president. You sure know how to sell the job!

  • May 14, 2008

    5:08 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    youngman writes:

    On one hand the Mayor and all the state and local Democratic politicians say there is nothing to worry about for the convention....but on the other hand they hire very high priced security specialist...which is it...? I think there is something to worry about but the Democrats won't tell us the truth. The usual.

  • May 14, 2008

    8:18 a.m.

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    Lewlew writes:

    Gene, what's "brownie" suppose to mean? He is making no more money than any of the CEO's around. Any kind of event where there is going to be thousands of people in one place is going to have a high cost for security. I wonder do you people just look for something to whine about.

  • May 14, 2008

    9:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    davies writes:

    Pajama: It could have been a bigger bomb at the Atlanta Olympics. If you want no bombs at all, you have to pay more in the $400 an hour range ;-)

  • May 14, 2008

    9:14 a.m.

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    DenverDan writes:

    Well worth it. Denver will host the next Pres. Go Colorado! And go Obama!

  • May 14, 2008

    9:17 a.m.

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    LingLingfor_prez writes:

    I am sure it is money well spent considering all the protests that will most likely happen, I wouldn't want to deal with it.

  • May 14, 2008

    10:17 a.m.

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    mojambo writes:

    didn't you mean "Spagnuolo and his ilk?

  • May 15, 2008

    7:27 a.m.

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    jld73 writes:

    LewLew,

    You exemplify the decline in our public education.... You can't even see the difference between a "PRIVATE" CEO and a "TAXPAYER FUNDED - Connection" job. The democrat party should pay for that guy. NOT the taxpayers.

    LewLew says: "He is making no more money than any of the CEO's around."

  • May 15, 2008

    8:53 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    antimoonbat writes:

    I agree, let the DNC pay for the security consultant, not the taxpaying people of the country.
    If the moonbat looney liberals want to have all of the security, let they pay for it.

  • May 15, 2008

    11:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    schmuck281 writes:

    "with agitators like limbaugh and his ilk... the price is well worth it."

    Oh, are they with "Recreate 68"?

    The nutjobs that support the DNC don't need any help from Limbaugh. Besides, most conservatives have jobs and don't live in their mother's basement. They don't have time for such foolishness.

  • May 16, 2008

    6:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    tb45 writes:

    Ellis Stanley was the former General Manager for the City of Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Department (EPD). He was forced to retire after becoming entrenched "old wood" in the department. He brought up many new employees with no emergency background or experience. A modern Fire Captain from the LAFD replaced him, bringing in a breath of fresh air. Colorado got taken for a lot of money. A lot of people know Ellis, he is a nice man. But he is not very progressive. The Mayor of LA ran things, so Ellis was more of a bureaucrat (aka "yes man"). His name, democratic credentials, and having turned down the FEMA Director job, made him first, probably not the best choice. There are many EM folks who have experience in the Olympics, Conventions, and other major events. Ellis is just a name to hang their hat on. I am glad Ellis soaked Colorado for all he could get, they got taken to the cleaners. If a Democrat is elected, expect to see him take over FEMA or DHS as the new Director.