Three prominent Denver leaders say they have been urged by others in the community to challenge John Hickenlooper for mayor in 2011, and two of them say they have not ruled out the notion.
Denver Councilman Michael Hancock and longtime political fixtures Penfield Tate III and James Mejia all said they have been urged by community activists to make a run — though the election is almost two years away and none would say who is trying to drum up opposition to the mayor.
Hancock and Tate, the president of the Denver Board of Water Commissioners, declined to rule out challenging the mayor’s bid for a third term in 2011. Mejia, the chief executive of the Denver Preschool Program, said he’s not going to run against the mayor.
“People say that if you’re not the wealthy elite, you don’t get his attention,” Hancock said. “That has been brought up with me.”
Hancock said the complaints he’s hearing also include that the mayor is distracted and has lost his focus. He said people who formerly worked under the mayor complain about his temperament.
“I’m hearing he has great ideas but there is a lack of follow-through,” Hancock said.
Tate, a former state legislator and aide in the administrations of former Mayor Federico Peña and former Gov. Roy Romer, said he’s hearing similar complaints, though he declined to say from whom. The mayor defeated Tate in 2003 when he won his first term in office.
Hickenlooper did not respond to requests for an interview made through his spokesman, Eric Brown.
“Our only focus is managing our budget, improving the way we deliver services and making sure Denver emerges from this economy stronger and ahead of the pack,” the mayor said in a prepared statement. “We can’t and won’t be distracted by partisan politics — we’ve got serious work to do.”
The mayor’s political adviser, David Kenney, said the mayor “still enjoys unbelievably high favorability ratings” and will run for re-election.
Kenney said a poll his firm conducted for a private client, not the mayor, in April found Hickenlooper’s favorability ratings at 78 percent for the seven- county metro area and 85 percent in Denver.
“I’ve never seen a politician in office after six years who enjoys such high favorability ratings,” Kenney said. “And that’s because he puts politics aside and focuses on managing the city well. Voters appreciate his common-sense, smart approach to government.”
He added: “With 85 percent approval ratings, people must be searching pretty hard for dissenters.”
Hancock said the discussions from people urging him to run have him wondering whether he needs to step up.
“I’m very flattered,” Hancock said. “I don’t know that I’d say I’m actively considering it, but I haven’t said that I’m not considering it.”
“It comes up,” Hancock said of discussions he has had with others that it’s time for a change in leadership in the city. “It’s on people’s minds.”
Tate also declined to rule out a challenge.
“I’ve just talked and listened to people,” Tate said. “I haven’t committed to doing anything.”
Hancock described some of those who have encouraged him to run as former supporters of the mayor, including business leaders as well as people who had worked for Hickenlooper.
“This is broader than you think,” Hancock said.
“Yes, there are people attempting to get someone to run against the mayor,” Mejia said. “I have, and other people have, been contacted about running against the mayor.”
Mejia previously oversaw construction of the Denver Justice Center. He also headed Denver’s parks and recreation department and was president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Mejia said the timing is bad because his wife is pregnant and added he doesn’t want to run against Hickenlooper anyway.
Hickenlooper was a political neophyte when he won office in 2003. He shot to the top of a crowded field of candidates that included Tate and then handily beat the city auditor at that time, Don Mares, in a runoff. Hickenlooper appointed Tate as co-chairman of his transition team.
No one has seriously challenged Hickenlooper since he won office in 2003. The mayor breezed to re-election without big-name opposition in 2007.
If the mayor wins a third term in office, it would be his final four years because of term limits.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
