The first round of the Denver mayor’s race was something of a beauty contest, with nice TV ads about cupcake trucks, education (an important issue but not in the mayor’s purview) and life-affirming personal tales.
Now that the race is down to just two, it’s time to get specific on one of the city’s most important topics: the city’s nagging budget woes.
In previous races, candidates could paint grand visions for Denver, but there’s no money or public appetite for big-ticket items, such as the Colorado Convention Center, Denver International Airport or even Denver’s Road Home, John Hickenlooper’s plan to end homelessness. The next mayor will be judged on how he is able to balance the city budget while trying to retain the core services residents have come to expect, and how ongoing projects are managed.
Hard choices lie ahead.
Voters deserve a full airing of how Michael Hancock and Chris Romer not only propose to handle the upcoming budget shortfall, but more importantly, Denver’s long-term structural budget problems. Even without a recession, in the coming years Denver may not be able to offer the same slate of services with its current revenue streams, which are based on a far less reliable sales tax system. Over the past several decades, the economy has shifted from a heavy reliance on the production of goods to a similar reliance on service industries that are taxed far less often, if at all.
In the earlier crowded race for mayor, Councilman Doug Linkhart came closest to offering specifics on his vision, proposing to charge for garbage pickup and keeping libraries open.
While both Romer and Hancock began to lay out more details in the days after Tuesday’s election, which was a good start, voters need to hear more than just platitudes about finding efficiencies and growing jobs.
For instance, how can the city maintain certain services?
Should Denverites pay for trash pickup? What about increasing fees to keep recreation centers open?
Are keeping libraries open and staffed a city priority? If so, how can it be paid for?
It will be tempting to make this a race about personalities and personal stories. After all, the contrast between the candidates already has been drawn by Hancock’s camp.
Hancock has an uplifting personal story to tell of overcoming tough odds. We think his late surge in the polls is a reflection of people being drawn to his personality and his triumph. But the mere fact Romer grew up more privileged should not detract from his successes in the business and political world. His lot in life was no more chosen for him than Hancock’s.
Hancock should trumpet his story, but he needs to be careful in how he contrasts himself with Romer. This race should be about who has the best vision for Denver, not class warfare.
