BROOMFIELD — John Hickenlooper accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for governor Saturday, emphasizing his business experience and outlining a general vision for leading the state through its present and future challenges.
“Starting a business, meeting a payroll, balancing budgets is something Colorado’s next governor should know,” said the Denver mayor and former restaurant owner, who was unopposed at the Democratic convention. “We believe that government can be a catalyst for economic development that brings jobs and helps restore our economy.
“We want to brand the state so when people hear the word ‘Colorado’ they think of entrepreneurship the same way they think of ski slopes.”
Hickenlooper, joined by his wife, Helen Thorpe, received a standing ovation from the delegates at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield. He barely strayed from his prepared remarks, which touched upon his business success, government accomplishments and his focus on the economy.
He also underscored a theme that was similar to the one he used during his mayoral campaign seven years ago: collaboration.
He noted the city’s success at cutting chronic homelessness by 60 percent in six years because of the involvement of “the entire community: private business, sports teams, nonprofits and religious congregations.” And he said that many didn’t believe the city could pull off hosting the Democratic National Convention two years ago.
“But we did. We worked with the entire Rocky Mountain region,” he said.
That same type of cooperation, he said, could help create a “stellar” education system in the state, create jobs and ease any remnants of the “we-versus-them” mentality across the state on water issues.
“We are all joined at the hip,” he said. “From the Western Slope to the Front Range; from the Eastern Plains to our mountain communities; Democrats, independents and, yes, even Republicans — we are Coloradans.”
The mayor also continued to stress his intention of running a positive campaign, and he compared the gubernatorial election to a job interview.
“When you go to a real job interview, you don’t go in and start trashing the other applicants. You give your vision.”
But he did say he would point out the differences between him and his likely Republican opponent, Scott McInnis. And he took some shots at the Republican Governor’s Association, which has recently run TV and radio ads charging that Hickenlooper cannot create and keep jobs.
“If that’s the best they can do, I’m not terribly worried,” he said at a news conference after his nomination, noting he grew up being called names like “Hickenpooper.”
The mayor, known for quirky behavior, opened his speech by mocking the ads, which say that he and Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter are “of the same stripe.”
“I’m here this morning to correct the record on zebras,” Hickenlooper joked, wearing a sport coat with zebra-striped lapel. “Your candidate for governor has always been a zebra of a different stripe.
“That’s why we’re going to win.”
Karen Crummy: 303-954-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com
