The closer we look at the long list of Coloradans that Gov.- elect John Hickenlooper has appointed to help his transition into office, the more inclusive it looks.
The Denver Democrat showed a keen understanding of the state power structure by bringing in a roster of respected players who are leaders in various communities.
You have Republicans — and not just any Republicans, but some of the big names in the party, such as former Gov. Bill Owens and State Board of Education chairman and former Congressman Bob Schaffer.
You have power brokers from outside the metro area, including Bill Hybl, a Colorado Springs resident who is chairman and CEO of the El Pomar Foundation; and Ernest House Jr., a member of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe and former secretary of the state Commission on Indian Affairs.
The width and breadth of the experiences encompassed on the transition committees are a good indicator that Hickenlooper aims to keep campaign promises of inclusiveness.
It also, in our minds, is reminiscent of how Hickenlooper, as Denver mayor, worked to build consensus in the city for efforts that otherwise might have sparked opposition.
The 2007 Denver bond proposals and tax initiatives, A through I, come to mind. The ballot questions asked voters whether they would pay for infrastructure, library maintenance and new construction, street repair, rec center improvements and cultural center upgrades. The total tab was $550 million in bonds, including a tax increase.
First, the mayor convened a huge task force representing voices and constituencies from around the city to look at the needs and make recommendations. Then, he tapped Bruce Benson, a well-known conservative fund-raiser and former state GOP chairman, to co-chair the effort and help sell it to more moderate and conservative voters.
Sound familiar?
It worked.
It seems to us that the dozens of notable citizens appointed by Hickenlooper, who will help him select the people who will run state government, are an extrapolation of the same strategy. If you include the right people in the process, they have an interest in the outcome and will use their personal capital to further the causes at hand.
Now, we know governing a state is a different task than running a city. Colorado is far more diverse and geographically far-flung than Denver. And Hickenlooper faces challenges, such as partisan divides, that he hasn’t had to deal with much as head of the city. Republican control of the state House will mean he will have to work hard to build consensus.
However, the way Hickenlooper has approached his transition into the governor’s mansion is a positive step and exhibits a solid understanding of what it will take to govern Colorado.
