Channel 9 mayoral profiles

Adam Schrager of Channel 9 News boldly offers a profile of one of the the least competitive races in Denver: "A Look at Denver’s Mayoral Candidates."

Mayor John Hickenlooper's profile aired on April 24th at 4 pm ; challenger Danny Lopez's profile aired on April 25th. Both are presented as a single article online, as excerpted below:

John Hickenlooper

...Hickenlooper came from a career running restaurants to win a resounding victory in June 2003. He promised better relations with the city of Aurora and with the state of Colorado and by all accounts, has delivered. However, his biggest campaign pledge was to do business differently; to treat Denver city government as a business.

He sees this re-election campaign as a referendum on whether Denver voters think he's come through on his goals...

Despite significant popular support (poll results show his approval ratings in the 70 percent range), his administration has made decisions that have been challenged. He entered office with a budget deficit and vowed not to cut city services to balance it. His decision to put all city workers on unpaid leave for three days left numerous employees angry. Plus, the fact the city was crippled for a period of time during last winter's blizzard opened Hickenlooper's administration to criticism that he was out of touch.

He says he hopes Denver residents realize his administration may not have been perfect, but it worked as hard as possible to create a better, more accountable city...

Danny Lopez

Danny Lopez realizes the odds he's facing taking on incumbent John Hickenlooper, but the Public Works employee is drawing inspiration from the smallest Denver Nugget as he seeks to make history.

"I'm out there to give voters an alternative choice to Mayor Hickenlooper," said Lopez. "If there are people out there not satisfied with the job he's done, they at least have an alternative choice. If Allen Iverson is the 'Answer,' Danny Lopez is the 'Alternative.'"...

"I think there are some poor neighborhoods this administration has forgotten," Lopez said. "The city workers are clearly forgotten. Forty percent of the workforce hasn't seen a raise in four years."

Lopez is not one of that 40 percent, but believes it is his responsibility to stand up for those who don't feel capable of standing up for themselves...

The self-described underdog wants to be known as the "Alternative" and if he proves successful, he says his victory will be remembered as Denver's "great miracle."

Video Interview: Paul Lopez (CD3)

Colorado Confidential's Mark Mehringer recently interviewed Paul Lopez, candidate for City Council representing Council District 3.

Born and raised in West Denver, Lopez discussed a community activism inherited from his mother, a bilingual kindergarten teacher.

Lopez mentioned graffiti & crime as the #1 issue in District 3. For solutions, he suggests better libraries, rec centers, and schools, as well as stiff penalties.

His #2 issue was business revitalization. Improving city services, road developments along Federal Boulevard, and flower-filled parks were among the suggestions (he later indicates that District 3 has less park space than any other district in the city). He expressed frustration with the adult bookstores, liquor stores, and check cashing places that dominate the area.

As for education, he notes that the city does have responsibility for student opportunities outside of school hours. Transit-oriented development is discussed as relates to property values, business planning, and FasTracks in general.

The most interesting question referenced Paul's age. He calls his youth a benefit, reflecting new leadership and understanding of new challenges.

Video Interview: Kathy Sandoval (CD3)

Colorado Confidential's Mark Mehringer recently interviewed Kathy Sandoval, candidate for City Council in Council District 3.

After brief remarks about her background in local schools and city planning work, the discussion turned to neighborhood interest in the new light rail system to District 3. Sandoval demonstrates a strong understanding of balancing development opportunities and community needs.

Transportation then gave way to a discussion of foreclosures, which leads to further concerns about graffiti, crime, and property values in general. Sandoval foresees solutions through housing non-profits, land banking, and effective targeting of resources to District 3.

Sandoval directed a question about education toward city-school partnerships, and the nexus between educational performance and neighborhood communities.

More information available in the 12-minute discussion.

Video Interview: Doug Linkhart (At-Large)

Colorado Confidential's Kerri Rebresh interviews Doug Linkhart, candidate for one of the two City Council At-Large seats.

Linkhart discusses his background in the federal government, state government, neighborhood associations, and city council.

Overall philosophy is "investing in people." He speaks to mundane issues like expanded after-school opportunities and public safety initiatives in ways that reference the real lives of Denver citizens.

With the exceedingly-meager "safety net" offered by state funds, the work done on the city level becomes ever more obvious. Linkhart tries to save money wherever possible, including the great hope that Denver's new jail would never have to be built. His remarks focus on the effects of substance abuse in Denver, which are particularly prevalent in our city.

This is another terribly impressive interview, and recommended for others to review.

Video Interview: Carol Boigon (At-Large)

Colorado Confidential continues its video interviews with candidates, as Kerri Rebresh interviews Carol Boigon, candidate for City Council At-Large candidate Carol Boigon.

Boigon's biographical story is especially interesting, ranging from her Detroit origins, teaching background, reportorial work, and then service to Governor Roemer, presidential candidate Bill Clinton, and Mayor Wellington Webb.

She highlights her work in allowing neighborhood daycare facilities and supporting the new Denver preschool initiative.

Boigon's primary concern is making Denver better for children and families. She provides a compelling discussion of safety, culture, and education, and how they provide the central foundation of a strong city.

She also discusses in hard detail the development of Colfax, referencing both the process that led to the new Tattered Cover and the plans to use Main Street zoning on behalf of Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7.

In my personal opinion, this is one of the most impressive interviews of all the city electoral candidates. I recommend it to others.

Video Interview: Shelly Watters (CD7)

Colorado Confidential's Kerri Rebrush interviewed Shelly Watters, City Council candidate for Council District 7.

Watters speaks to her personal background and work with former City Council Councilwoman Joyce Foster and current Councilwoman Carol Boigon.

She speaks to her knowledge of zoning and constituent services, and discusses the fun of running for City Council.

As for the locus of her support, she indicates that she is the only candidate who served on a neighborhood board.

Her top issues are safety and graffiti. She indicates that the rebuilding of higher-density homes is a real issue on the east side of Council District 7 (in contrast, Julie Connor and Chris Nevitt see that as an issue on the west side of the district).

She goes on to talk about the public schools and the impact of city government on the daily lives of citizens.

She pledges to locate her Council office in the district itself, instead of downtown at the City & Council Building, as well as meet regularly with the presidents of registered neighborhood organizations.

Video Interview: Greg Rasheed (CD8)

Colorado Confidential's Mark Mehringer interviewed Greg Rasheed, City Council candidate in Council District 8.

The YouTube servers were having trouble with these videos at press time, so the URL is presented here without comment.

Video Interview: Carla Madison (CD8)

Colorado Confidential's Mark Mehringer interviewed Carla Madison, City Council candidate in Council District 8.

She discusses her background in physical therapy and discusses some of the most important issues to her, including zoning, affordable housing, and neighborhood preservation.

Youth was another major focus, including public schools and gangs.

A new question also popped up in this interview: "what is it like to be a candidate?" Madison speaks of the roller coaster experience, with great highs such as the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News endorsements.

Later questions went to business needs, vacancy rates, and the like.

Video Interview: Darrell Watson (CD8)

Colorado Confidential's Mark Mehringer interviews Darrell Watson, City Council candidate in Council District 8.

Unlike other interviews, Watson cleverly sat himself in front of a projected image of his campaign advertisement. The camera isn't well placed, however, placing Watson on the extreme right of the screen and washing out his visage.

To more substantive points, Watson begins with biographical details, including his large family and upbringing in the Virgin Islands. He discusses educational concerns, partnerships with private foundations, and community policing.

He also discusses zoning as a long-term planning tool, ensuring higher density structures among major thoroughfares and opposing comprehensive overlays as negative expressions of neighborhood fears.

Video Interview: Niccolo Casewit (CD3)

Colorado Confidential's Mark Mehringer interviewed Niccolo Casewit, City Council candidate for Council District 3.

Casewit focuses on the use of Federal Boulevard as a pedestrian zone, instead of just an automotive thoroughfare. As a working architect, he believes he has special insights into zoning concerns. As a lifelong Barnum resident and graduate of the public schools, he believes he understands the special qualities of the district.

As for crime, Casewit talks at length about graffiti, illegal dumping, and gangs.

Whereas most CC interviews have ranged from 10-15 minutes, this discussion extended to nearly a half an hour. We welcome visitors to view the entire discussion.

Video Interview: Marcia Johnson (CD5)

Colorado Confidential's Mark Mehringer interviewed Marcia Johnson, incumbent City Council candidate for Council District 5.

Councilwoman Johnson outlines her political life, starting with work in her father's failed election campaign and moving on to her own service in the Denver School Board and Election Commission.

Regarding issues, she searches for more business development on Colfax, redress of traffic congestion on Quebec, and completion of a regional bicycle path to Lowry/Stapleton.

Video Interview: Chris Nevitt (CD7)

Colorado Confidential's Kerri Rebrush interviewed Chris Nevitt, City Council candidate for Council District 7.

Chris indicates the top issues in District 7 as united around the question of schools, but that the east side of Broadway is more interested in controlling development and the west sides of Broadway is more concerned with crime.

As for his support, Chris mentions politicians, neighbors, and businesses, with a brief mention of his union friends.

Regarding redevelopment, Nevitt supports voluntary downzoning of neighborhood homes to preserve single-family neighborhood quality.

Finally, regarding his unique qualities for City Council, he mentions his ability to create results in a short period of time, referencing negotiations within the Gates redevelopment project.

Video Interview: Julie Connor (CD7)

Colorado Confidential interviewed Julie Connor, City Council candidate for District 7.

Describing the district and her constituent services in Councilwoman Kathleen MacKenzie's office, she jokes that she is a "professional meeting-goer." As for particular accomplishments, she notes improved bicycle pathways in the Gates redevelopment and a new South Broadway business improvement district.

Perhaps the most telling question was what would change in the District 7 council office if Julie were elected. She remarked, "On Monday nights [weekly City Council meetings] I have to sit on the dias and vote. That's how things will change."

She also makes the case for focusing on city government, and how fixing potholes can expand horizons for local residents.

Profile: Sharon Bailey (CD8)

Several readers have mentioned Sharon Bailey's husband, John. For the record, John Bailey ran for City Council in 1991, 1999, and in a special election in 2000. Scott Stocker & Gerry Valerio also wrote an article for the March 29, 2007 Rocky Mountain News regarding his work, entitled "Bailey's effort a cornerstone."

A quick Google search also revealed the article below, which references both Sharon and her husband upon the bestowal of a service award from Princeton University. Below is a short excerpt:

Sharon Bailey, who studied anthropology and teacher preparation at Princeton, volunteered at Community House as an undergraduate and became its director after graduation. Her future husband, John, a Princeton resident who attended Wagner College in New York, was mentoring local students through the Princeton Youth Center at the time.

The two collaborated to develop mentoring programs in academics and sports, focusing on youth in the predominantly African-American John Witherspoon community.

"We really appreciate the award," Sharon Bailey said. "I really felt a great grounding [in my service], and I'm still indebted to Princeton. The motto 'Princeton in the nation's service' has really stuck with me."

The battle for Denver Auditor - full profiles and issues

Some of the most informative pieces regarding Denver politics are not available on the Web. The Colorado Statesman has been around for more than 100 years, providing in-depth coverage of policy issues, elections, and political personalities at both the state and local level. Yet it's small, with monthly editions available only in the State Capitol Building and through online subscription.

In February 2007, reporter John Schroyer offered the following article entitled "Denver auditor faces 'candidate of destiny' in May election." Reprinted in its entirety with permission from the author, this article provides extensive profiles of each candidate along with the issues animating the campaign.

If you don't think this is the most thorough and engaging story of the 2007 Denver auditor's race, I'll eat my hat.

For Bill Wells, the job of Denver City Auditor isn’t just a job. It’s a calling.

“It’s just something I’ve got to do,” Wells explained. “It’s a dream.”

Wells, a retired automobile parts manufacturer who’s been filling his spare time working as an airport inspections officer for TSA, has already run for the auditor’s job, in 1979 and then again in 2003, when current Denver Auditor Dennis Gallagher won his first term. But Wells isn’t letting his past failures distract him from his goal.

“I started campaigning shortly before the November election. It’s been a very behind-the-scenes thing so far, but I’m not going to lose,” Wells said. “I knew, election night four years ago, that I was going to run again. It didn’t make any difference who else was running.”

Though he came in dead last of the five candidates listed on the ballot in the 2003 election, with only 5 percent of the vote, the 60-year-old Wells says this time will be different (Gallagher took first in the 2003 general election with 31 percent and then won a run-off a month later against second-place finisher Ed Thomas).

With a campaign slogan of “An auditor for auditor — what a novel idea,” Wells has been quietly shoring up support and canvassing neighborhoods. He’s been talking about the different ways he wants to cut out inefficiency from Denver’s daily operations, which he learned about firsthand between 1973 and 1980, when he served as Denver’s Budget and Management Analyst.

“I was bewildered to see the amount of government waste and the bureaucracy that prevented any improvements. I know what some of the problems are, and I know what some of the solutions are,” Wells said.

He said one of the biggest problems he noted at the time was the inefficient upkeep of municipal vehicles.

“I uncovered the city spending $10,000 to $15,000 thousand a year on vehicles that were only worth $5,000. The same amount of dollars could have purchased a new vehicle that would have lasted longer,” Wells recalled.

“That’s kind of a no-brainer,” he said with a chuckle.

Wells also cites his ingenuity and foresight in devising a method for calculating licenses and permit fees, a fifty-point plan that was adopted by the Denver City Council while he was working with the Budget Office. In 1999, Wells said, the Financial Accounting Standards Board adopted a similar plan and required it be implemented nationwide.

“I started that twenty years before it became the standard,” Wells said.
More than his qualifications, though, Wells says Denver voters are tired of Gallagher’s style.

“Dennis wasn’t cut out to be an auditor,” Wells said. “Dennis just doesn’t have the makeup to be an auditor. He’s a very good politician, no one will disagree with that. He’s probably one of the best. Meeting and greeting people and name recognition, he’s very good at that, but when it comes to running an office of professionals in a non-political way, I don’t think he knows how to do that.”

Wells said though Gallagher has made a number of mistakes over the years, one that stuck out for him was the “$9 billion mistake,” at the very beginning of his term, when Gallagher calculated the amount of debt Denver has. His office somehow misplaced a decimal point, and instead of the true amount of debt, Gallagher wound up proclaiming that Denver was $9 billion less in the hole than it actually was.

Wells has held office before — he ran for and won a seat on the city council of Smethport, Pennsylvania, a town of roughly 1,700 people, where he lived from 1983 to 2001. Wells said he moved to Smethport when his father, who was ailing, asked him to run the family business, Smethport Auto Parts, a now-defunct parts manufacturer. Simply moving from one state to another didn’t relieve Wells’ desire to serve in public office, though, and he wound up serving on Smethport’s city council, from 1988 to 1996, and was elected council president both terms.

So far, he’s hired no official campaign staff, and though he said his campaign will be “the typical deal,” he also said it would be much smaller and less of “a high-profile type thing.” His strategy was to keep his candidacy quiet until the last minute in the hopes that “no one else would jump on the bandwagon.”


Gallagher, by contrast, has been proudly extolling his campaign to voters for months, and was even able to kill two birds with one stone, thanks to the special election in January when Denver voters approved a measure to disband the Denver Election Commission in favor of an elected clerk and recorder. Gallagher, a longtime proponent of the switch, campaigned hard for the measure, and was delighted when it passed.

“The campaign is going very well,” Gallagher said. “I got a little bit of an early start because I was supporting the amendment for the elected clerk. That was a sort of prelude to the campaign. By supporting that, I reminded everybody that I’m up again in May.”

The 67-year-old Democrat has held public office without a break since 1970, when he was first elected to the state House of Representatives. He stayed there until 1974, when he moved over to the State Senate. Once term limits for public officials were approved by voters, though, Gallagher found himself term-limited after the 1994 election, and quit the senate for a Denver City Council campaign a year later. He served there until 2003, when he was again term-limited, and then was elected to city auditor. For this election cycle, he’s already turned in his petitions, weeks ahead of the deadline, and with 500 signatures as opposed to the requisite 300.

After this term, though, he says he’ll be done with politics, and plans to retire and write short stories “like James Joyce,” he said with a grin.

For now, however, he’s taking reelection quite seriously.

Gallagher laughed at Wells’ slogan, and retorted, “That’s a great motto. Mine is ‘audit the hell out of them, no matter what.’”

He also rejected Wells’ suggestion that he was unqualified for the post.

“I was sixteen years on the state audit committee. Do you think that’s long enough?” Gallagher asked rhetorically. He served on the state senate audit committee from 1978 to 1994.

He also scoffed at the insinuation that the so-called $9 billion mistake was a crucial slip-up, and said he even heard from his 7th grade math teacher about that snafu.

“She said, Dennis, I’m praying for you, and with a mistake like that, you should be working for the federal government,” he laughed.

His mission, he said, is bringing ever more accountability and efficiency to Denver city departments. Gallagher cited one example where his office had discovered an agency using 411 every time they needed to find a phone number, instead of simply using either the Internet or a phone book, at an estimated annual cost of $25,000. After they brought the matter to light, Gallagher said, the cost was reduced to just a few thousand.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to improve city government and making it more accountable to the taxpayers,” Gallagher said.

Another issue Gallagher says resonates with voters is performance audits, which his office was authorized to begin after Denver voters passed 1B last November.

“That is going to be our new thrust,” Gallagher said. “It’s through performance audits that you find out almost everything that’s going on.”

Gallagher said that tool is going to increase Denver’s bureaucratic effectiveness by allowing his office to “get in deep” and find out how to help city offices figure out the best and most effective ways to do their jobs.

Another aspect of 1B Gallagher’s pleased with is that from now on, the city audit committee will be comprised of financial experts from outside the city’s infrastructure, which he believes will increase the committee’s objectivity and integrity.

“If you remember Enron, that’s how they got in trouble,” Gallagher said, referring to the past structure, which allowed for two members of the committee to be appointed by the mayor. “I’ve always supported getting outside members on the audit committee. All along, in my years in office, we’ve been pushing for a totally independent audit committee, and I’m pleased to report that we’ll have that now.”

Gallagher said he will also be campaigning on his role with the prevailing wage law, which protects construction workers and other contract employees from being undercut by companies with which Denver contracts for projects. The law requires employers to pay a competitive wage, and Gallagher says his office has concentrated on enforcing those protections.

“We’ve made it very clear from the beginning with construction companies and companies that do business with the city what prevailing wage is,” Gallagher stated.

Gallagher’s also being supported by an enormous contingent of Colorado Democrats, including Denver lawmakers Sen. Paula Sandoval and Rep. Jerry Frangas, former legislators Regis Groff, Paul Sandoval, Rob Hernandez, Frank DiFillipo, Bill Thiebaut, Gloria Tanner, Wilma Webb, and Frana Mace. Gallagher has also been endorsed by the Colorado Building and Construction Trades Council, the Laborer’s local 720, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees local 821, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local 68, the Teamsters local 2004, the United Food and Commercial Workers local 7, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades local 930, the Plumbers Union local 3, the Plumbers and Pipefitters local 208, and the Colorado State Electrical Workers. Gallagher has also been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-CD 7.

As of Feb. 5, Gallagher had $29,672 on hand. Wells has not filed campaign finance reports with the Denver Election Commission yet.

Meet the candidates

All of the announced candidates in Denver's 2007 municipal elections are briefly profiled online on Channel 8's Denver Decides site.

Only three biographical facts are provided: Education, Occupation, and Family. But I really enjoyed the photos.

View all of your prospective candidates online at Denver Decide's "Meet The Candidates."

Profile: Dennis Gallagher (Auditor)

Dennis Gallagher successfully faced off against Bill Wells and others in 2003. Below is an excerpt from The Colorado Statesman written in March 2003 by Ken Freed. The full title is "Auditor Candidates Seeing Red at Neighborhood Forum."

...Dennis J. Gallagher was the last candidate to speak. The former state legislator with a Colorado budget amendment named after him is the term-limited Denver City Council representative for District 1, northwest Denver. He's also a speech communication professor at Regis University.

"I've directed performance audits of state agencies while a state senator," he said, "and I'd like to see the same done for all Denver agencies." He'd also "like to see what can be done" for Denver's neighborhoods and small businesses in city services.

"I remember hearing how the new city office building would feature a 'one-stop shop' for all permits and licenses, but it's not there. As Auditor I could ask why and do something about all the money being wasted."

If elected Auditor, he promised that he would his own car instead of a city vehicle, and he questioned if so many in the city government staff even need vehicles. "Are they racing to some crime scene or a fire in the middle of the night?"

And on top of all that, he said, he's the only member of term-limited city council members in the Auditor's race who will give back to the city 30 percent of his budget.

Denver City Council members have traditionally rolled forward unused funds from year to year, and the tallies for some council members have grown over time.

"I'd have to face any ethical challenges about spending a million dollars before I left office," he concluded. "So just remember the name of Gallagher."

Profile: Bill Wells (Auditor)

Folks searching for information on Auditor candidate Bill Wells will have a devil of a time. Mr Wells has no campaign website, his public appearances have been few, and media mentions are rather rare.

He did, however, run for Auditor back in 2003 against Debbie Ortega, Ed Thomas, Landri Taylor, and Dennis Gallagher. Below is an excerpt from The Colorado Statesman written in March 2003 by Ken Freed. The full title is "Auditor Candidates Seeing Red at Neighborhood Forum."

...Bill Wells lowered the mic slightly. With his white hair and black suit, he stood relaxed before the audience, resulting from years of training and leadership in Toastmasters with involvement in Optimists and Rotary and Mensa.

Wells spoke about nine years as a management analyst in the Denver Budget and Management Office, he did not mention additional experiences as the purchasing agent for Arapahoe County.

He's chief concern that night was making sure the audience knew he had done and could do effective performance audits.

He's worked with Denver Health in establishing auditing standards now being adopted nationally. But this is not his only sign of merit.

"I've personally exposed waste in the city fleet," he said. His audit proved that replacing some vehicles would be cheaper than maintaining them. Wells did not mention that he knew about cars from being president and CEO of Smethport Auto and Truck Parts.

"I'm the only candidate who has actually done the job of a city auditor," Wells said.

...Closing statements from the candidates repeated the messages in all but one case. Wells placed a capstone on the forum with his own disclosure.

"I'm the only one here who has never before run for public office or led a political campaign," he said. "I'm the only one here who does not think of the job as a step to higher office."

He paused, looking almost serene for a moment. "Budgets and audits may sound boring to some of you, but the idea of being Denver Auditor has been a passion of mine for a long time. This is my dream. That's the kind of person I am."

Profile: Danny Lopez (Mayor)

Articles on YourHub.com are often jejune and unhelpful, but this afternoon's post by James Syring is important enough to quote in its entirety. The topic and style of the story are clearly indicated in the title: "Lopez For Mayor."

Danny Lopez is somewhat of a rarity in politics. He's a native of Colorado and not a carpetbagger. He was born in Alamosa and grew up in the Denver metropolitan area. He's lived in North Denver and Montbello and presently lives in Bear Valley. He went to Thomas Jefferson, graduated from Ranum and attended The University of Colorado.

I like the idea that he has lived in regular neighborhoods and not some enclave of million dollar lofts or scrape-offs. Another thing I like about him is that he comes from a working class background. His folks were both union workers and he's a long time employee of the Denver Department of Public Works. I feel strongly about elected officials having his kind of background because I believe that people like Danny have more in common with the majority of the citizens of a city like Denver and they understand what it's like to try and get by in a city where the movers and shakers are more concerned about what upscale restaurant to take their friends to instead of worrying about rising property taxes or how safe the neighborhood streets are.

Danny and I talked about what he thought he could accomplish for the city. One advantage he felt he had was that since he didn't have any big time contributors, he wasn't obligated to anyone who had their own agenda and he could concentrate on what was best for all the people of Denver.

As a city worker, he feels strongly that there should be what he calls a "Trickle Up" economy. He thinks that there is a greater chance to improve the local economy if workers get raises and if Denver raises the minimum wage. Forty percent of city workers have not had a raise since the Webb administration. Danny feels that now that the economy has rebounded to the point where the present city administration is ready to spend 1.7 million dollars for a miniature golf park and raises have been given to the city council, that working folks should also benefit.

He agrees with the "Broken Windows" system of policing that relies on prosecuting minor crimes in order to head off major crime. As part of this program, he would like to see harsher penalties for graffiti vandals.

A long time coach of youth sports, Danny has seen the benefits for young people and he would like to see more affordable youth programs. His acronym for dealing with youth crime is: PETA. Prevention, Enforcement, Treatment and Aftercare.

He disagrees with the closing of Manual High and believes that the community should have been responsible for devising a plan to restructure and save the existing school.

He thinks that the people who believe that a city should be run simply as a business, too often overlook the importance of the culture and values of individual neighborhoods.

Danny Lopez knows that his chance of winning the election is slim but I reminded him that he has one big advantage over his opponent and that's the fact that, with his experience at Public Works, he knows a heck of a lot about how to handle snow removal and that might be enough for us to give him a shot at the job.

Profile: Waldo Benevidez (CD9)

Waldo Benevidez has been running for City Council for a long time. Decades, in fact. As a historian, I recently reviewed some old Denver newspapers for information about this candidate and discovered dozens of articles. Below are some excerpts from the archives.

In 1991, Benevidez ran for the City Council District 9 seat against incumbent Deborah Ortega, Gary Castillo and Joe Herrera.

Denver Post, March 30, 1991

...Benavidez, a 51-year-old Democrat who works as executive director of the Auraria Community Center, calls dispersed housing "social engineering. ... I don't think the Denver Housing Authority should be in the business of buying single-family homes.

...On other issues, Benavidez said he's against a subsidy for a convention center headquarters hotel.

And he thinks the large retail project proposed by the city's urban renewal agency for downtown should be replaced by a plan calling for shops that would appeal more to students and downtown workers.

Rocky Mountain News, May 9, 1991

... District 9. Incumbent Debbie Ortega may be steamrolling toward another term, but challengers Waldo Benavidez, Joe Herrera, and Gary Castillo are mounting spirited attacks. Our favorite is Wally Benavidez, whose pro-business ideas include selling off Winter Park and investing the profits in more beneficial projects. While the conventional wisdom says it's Ortega all the way, Benavidez's ideas promise greater development in the Ninth.

Then in 1996 he ran for Colorado House District 2 against Gloria Leyba. Leyba was initially left off the ballot for failure to file the necessary paperwork in time. Leyba was elated in the article below when a federal judge ruled in her favor.

Denver Post, June 26, 1996

...Benavidez was less enthused.

"I don't think it's right that the judge should put her on the ballot," he said from his home. "She didn't get her papers in on time because she was too busy trying to keep me off the ballot."

After Benavidez won a spot on the ballot through a petition drive, Leyba challenged some of his petitions last month, but Buckley dismissed the challenge.

In the end, Gloria Leyba won with 71%: 2,445 total votes against Benavidez's 980. He ran again in 2004, and again encountered issues with the ballot.

Rocky Mountain News, June 29, 2004

A Denver man hoping to run for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives failed to submit sufficient signatures to make the August primary, a state election official ruled Monday.

But Waldo Benavidez, executive director of the Auraria Community Center, said he intends to challenge that finding in court and is not giving up.

"As long as my name is on the ballot, I'm going to campaign," said Benavidez, 65.

Deputy Secretary of State William Hobbs ruled Benavidez lacked sufficient signatures on petitions to participate in the primary, falling 19 short of the 579 names needed to become a Democratic candidate in Denver House District 2.

...Benavidez initially was placed on the ballot when state election officials ruled 733 of the 1,037 signatures that he submitted were valid.

However, Hobbs struck 173 more, leaving Benavidez with only 560 valid signatures - 19 short of what he needed.

The bulk of the signatures rejected - 158 names - were tossed out because they were obtained by two petition circulators who were declared not to be residents of the district. as required by law.

Denver Post, August 6, 2004

Democrat Waldo Benavidez is putting on a conservative hat and challenging incumbent Rep. Mike Cerbo for the Democratic nomination to represent state House District 2, which includes Denver's west side.

Benavidez, executive director of the Auraria Community Center, and Cerbo, a union official with the Hotel & Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union, are the Democratic primary candidates.

Support for school vouchers could make Benavidez a stranger in his own party, but he said families in his district deserve school choice and higher-quality education.

"Parents are upset with how their kids are being treated in the public school system, and school choice is an alternative," said Benavidez, who started a group a few years ago for parents in west Denver to push for vouchers. High dropout and expulsion rates in the public schools in his district are a problem, Benavidez said.

But Cerbo argues that K-12 education has already been squeezed enough.

...Benavidez has had a roller- coaster ride to get on the ballot by petition. The secretary of state's office first ruled in June that he did not have enough signatures. A Denver judge then ruled in July that all votes cast for Benavidez in Tuesday's primary would be counted.

In the end, Cerbo won re-election with 65% of the vote. Benavidez received 1,246 votes. By 2006, Benevidez was in the middle of the immigration debate.

Denver Post, January 5, 2006

[Defend Colorado Now] are here to introduce an anti-illegal-immigration initiative that will probably be on the ballot in 2006.

One of the group's leaders, former Gov. Dick Lamm, lends the debate intellectual firepower and left-wing credibility. His "liberal case" to control the border is a well-crafted argument against "illegal immigration," not "the illegal immigrant."

Defend Colorado Now's initiative would amend the state's constitution to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving publicly funded services that are "not required under the law."

Question: If Colorado is already "not required under the law" to provide these welfare-state services, what's the purpose of the initiative?

Why not just follow the law?

"It's a mandate," Lamm explained. He expects the passage will send a message to legislators that Colorado voters are getting impatient. "Listen. Voters matter."

Unfortunately for Lamm, his arguments were corroded by the presence of another leader of his group, Waldo Benavidez, director of the Auraria Community Center.

We've seen the ugly underbelly of the isolationist, right-wing crowd - and, no, not everyone who is concerned about illegal immigration falls in this category - but wait until you hear the left-wing case for closed borders as presented by Benavidez.

There is no other way to say this: Benavidez's rhetoric was two parts nonsense and one part paranoia, sprinkled liberally with economic illiteracy. Benavidez threw so many inane anti-business clichés around that, by the end of the speech, you had to wonder why any Mexicans would risk their lives coming to this dreadful country.

Other than to sell us drugs, of course, in Benavidez's world.

GOPUSA.com, April 28, 2006

“Enough is enough,” said Waldo Benavidez, a Denver social service agency director and leader of the ballot measure. “I’m tired of people protesting in our streets demanding rights that they’re not entitled to.

“This initiative is the first volley of Colorado citizens fighting back,” he said. “It’s about preserving our way of life. In the final analysis, it is all about cheap labor and denying the middle class their piece of the American dream.”

For more information, visit Defend Colorado Now.