Denver City Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth announced Monday she is leaving her post early to take a job at Denver Health.
Wedgeworth, who cannot run for council in May because of term limits, will become the chief government and community relations officer for the Denver public hospital.
Wedgeworth said she will resign from the City Council on March 12.
“It’s been a wild ride,” Wedgeworth said during the council meeting Monday. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
Despite her term ending this summer, her announcement surprised colleagues. Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz spontaneously jumped up and hugged Wedgeworth.
And council president Michael Hancock said it “was a difficult thing for me to hear.”
Wedgeworth took office representing council District 8 in 1999. She served as council president for two years.
Before that, she served on Mayor Wellington Webb’s staff.
Wedgeworth was a driving force behind Denver’s bid for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, serving as the host committee president. She was recently named to Denver’s executive committee for the convention, and she said Monday she will continue to serve there.
Meanwhile, state Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon showed up at City Hall before the council meeting and confirmed to city officials that he is considering a run for Denver’s first elected clerk and recorder. Gordon would join the current appointed clerk and recorder, Stephanie O’Malley, in the race, along with Don Henderson, Sharon Klein and Jacob Werther.
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-954-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
