Denver might be bored with this year’s municipal election, which seems to have the pulse of a piece of cold marble. But for those of us who get paid to pay attention, the 2011 campaign has been anything but boring, featuring excitement, humor and some very strange moments. Here, a day before ballots are counted in the city’s mail-in election, is a breakdown of the best and worst from this year’s campaign.
Best Mayoral Forum:
Candidate Survivor. Hands down. The April 6 forum at Casselman’s was put on by the folks at New Era Colorado, featuring questions posed by a man dressed as a bed bug, drinking among the candidates, crowd-voting by text messaging and, yes, dancing. A crazy night that had Doug Linkhart winning after he threw candies to the crowd and promised to legalize marijuana.
Worst Mayoral Forum:
Every other one.
Best Advertisement:
Michael Hancock’s “18 miles,” which plays like a mini-movie. Hancock and his son travel from their Far Northeast Denver home early in the morning to East High School. There still are questions about why education has featured so prominently in this election when the mayor has no control over Denver Public Schools.
Worst Advertisement:
Carol Boigon’s spots. The first showed the councilwoman flying in an airplane to mimic former Mayor John Hickenlooper’s campaign for two referendums, an obscure nod that only insiders remembered. Another showed her multi-tasking in the kitchen, but political analyst Katy Atkinson pointed out a huge no-no: Boigon using a metal spatula on a nonstick surface.
Best Endorsements:
Plenty of high-quality endorsements for mayoral candidates, including former Denver mayors Federico Peña and Wellington Webb endorsing James Mejia and Michael Hancock, respectively. And former Gov. Roy Romer, of course, endorsed his son, Chris Romer. Other good endorsements included Willie Nelson’s Teapot Party for Doug Linkhart, Peter Boyles for Jeff Peckman and Carol Boigon for Hancock. Our favorite: Denver Nuggets’ coach George Karl’s endorsement of Steve Saunders in the Council District 5 race.
Most Significant Turning Point:
Mayor Guillermo “Bill” Vidal chose not to enter the race after John Hickenlooper allegedly reminded him that he had promised not to run to ensure a “level playing field.”
Best Political Lesson:
Don’t e-mail anything that you don’t want printed in The Denver Post. Vidal learned the lesson the hard way, e-mailing 11 people a missive in which he said Gov. John Hickenlooper had thrown an “inexplicable temper tantrum” over the former deputy mayor’s intent to run and that it was an example of someone trying to keep him from “looking to climb above my proper station.”
Most Obvious Absent Participant:
Gov. John Hickenlooper, who has neither endorsed nor weighed in on the race to replace him.
Best Media Development:
Social media, including Twitter, Facebook and blogs that provide a low-level but consistent stream of information about the various races. Of particular note are the Tweets from Fox 31’s Eli Stokols, who recently sent out a photo of the “lunchtime rush” at the Denver Elections Division, showing no voters and only work crews.
Most Frustrating Development:
The logjam of 38 write-in candidates for the District 8 seat to replace Carla Madison.
Easiest A:
Chris Romer, as captain of the Stanford University lacrosse team, giving himself an A-plus in lacrosse.
Best Slogan:
I Dig Doug. Doug Linkhart’s catchy phrase is so simple it almost seems as if it is part of a Zen Buddhist Koan.
Best Exchange:
During a four-person forum at the Seawall Grand Ballroom, James Mejia took the moment to tell the audience about a new motto for his campaign. “Mejia, it’s Spanish for Mayor,” he said. Doug Linkhart interjected, saying: “Linkhart: alcalde. That is Spanish for mayor.”
Candidate Most In Need of a Scheduler:
Chris Romer, who skipped out on at least 11 mayoral forums that other candidates attended.
Candidate Most Likely To Be Found Rummaging Through Your Pantry:
James Mejia, who began a campaign stunt to sleep in homes throughout Denver. Mejia stayed in dozens of homes, sleeping on princess beds, couches and in spare bedrooms.
Strangest Political Prop:
The Cupcake Truck. Chris Romer and Doug Linkhart both used the cupcake truck as an example of how city bureaucracy is hindering business. Both claimed they fixed the problems that were sidelining the truck that serves as the mobile arm of the Cake Crumbs Bakery in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. But city officials say the issue is still being worked through.
Strangest Theological Moment:
Michael Hancock in a forum at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, refusing to answer whether he believes in evolution, saying instead, “I believe in God.”
Best Political Rant:
Finally, the best political rant came from Gerald Styron, who did not make it onto the mayoral ballot. Styron sent in his manifesto on a CD, featuring his viewpoints voiced over music by the rock group, Queen.
