Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, who fashions himself as the ultimate geeky, non-politician, is trying to get an infusion of good old-fashioned political skills into his office.
The mayor has offered a job to R.D. Sewald, who currently works as the council and mayoral liaison for Denver Auditor Dennis Gallagher.
Sewald would become the mayor’s council liaison and act as the mayor’s emissary to other political powers in the city, such as Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey.
Several people familiar with the negotiations said the mayor had made an offer to Sewald, but salary remained a sticking point.
Sewald is paid $113,000 annually in his post with Gallagher.
The hire would plug what some view as a hole for the mayor, who has been criticized by some as not being sufficiently attuned to the political pressures and desires of the council.
“I think it’s a very significant move,” said former Councilwoman Cathy Reynolds.
Reynolds said Hickenlooper, a former geologist turned entrepreneur, hasn’t always been attuned to the politics of city hall, though he’s starting to learn.
“He just doesn’t have any background in it,” Reynolds said.
“I’ve known three mayors: Bill McNichols, (Federico) Peña, and Wellington Webb,” she continued. “And they all came from a political background. They all understood what it’s like to go into a precinct caucus and speak for their colleagues and suck it up when a decision is made.”
In Hickenlooper’s first term in office, the mayor could depend on the the huge reservoir of goodwill the voters extended him and didn’t have to get involved in some of the nitty-gritty tactics that past administrations excelled at.
This term, though, the council has grown more fractious, and early on it dealt him a significant blow by voting to extend pay base-building raises to city workers beyond what the mayor thought was fiscally responsible.
Council President Michael Hancock said Hickenlooper asked his opinion about the potential hire, and he praised Sewald.
“It’s an issue of being real sophisticated politically,” Hancock said. “Not that the mayor isn’t, but he could certainly add some sophistication and political know-how with a hire like that.”
The mayor’s chief of staff, Kelly Brough, confirmed that discussions were underway with Sewald.
“We have not settled anything,” she said. “For us, we’re always excited when there’s an opportunity for good folks to work for us and for us to entertain those discussions.”
In hiring Sewald, the mayor would bring on board a familiar face at city hall who knows well the differing constituencies of council members.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
