When Mattisse Plese heard there was going to be a mayoral forum at The Gathering Place, she was excited, but uncertain how legitimate the news was.
“I wasn’t sure if they would actually come, if we’d actually be able to ask questions — but I was really happy with the result.”
For an hour this morning, Michael Hancock and Chris Romer indeed answered questions at the facility, a safe refuge for women, children and transgender individuals and their children who are often experiencing homelessness and poverty. Rather than talking about the prospects of bringing a big box store to Denver, or the bureaucracy that often frustrates small business owners, this audience had far more basic concerns, like where they were going to sleep tonight.
And while the answers may not have been of immediate use, overall, the attendees seemed appreciative that they were at least able to ask the questions.
“I got here at 8 this morning (one hour before the forum) and there were people lined up outside; I thought they were there because it was raining, but many of them were asking when the forum would be starting,” said Rachel Basye, a director of The Gathering Place.
And unlike the early series of forums, which have invariably included stretches where the candidates have attacked each other’s political resumes and accomplishments, today’s gathering was less about rhetoric and debate than a chance for both men — often making sure they had the questioner’s name — to empathize and simply have a discussion.
Both men called for more efforts in initiatives like Denver’s Road Home, the 10-year plan to end homelessness, saying private businesses as well as non-profit organizations should partner in those efforts.
That could be welcome news for Plese, a transgender. Her partner asked the candidates about solving “the mountain of discrimination” they faced in keeping their family together.
“My heart goes out to you,” Romer said. “I want to make sure that in the village we build, in the community we have, we need to make sure that you’re protected, you’re valued and that you’re an asset to our community … this is a core value; everyone should have a seat at the table.”
Hancock pointed out that Denver is considered a national leader in services to the LGBT community, but that there needed to be a push at the state level to allow civil unions in Colorado.
“When my brother was in Denver Health dying of AIDS, his partner had to leave the room when the medical doctors walked in for consultations, he couldn’t sign any papers for my brother — it was absolute discrimination. Discrimination anywhere should be absolutely unacceptable.”
Afterwards, Plese said she thought both men were genuinely concerned about the issues presented and expressed happiness that they attended.
“I think it’s particularly important that these candidates acknowledge that these people can vote,” Basye said. “We have very high voter participation, it’s something we work really hard on.
“We wanted them to have the opportunity to ask the questions that were important to them as voters–which may or may not be the questions coming up in all of the other debates and forums.”
The candidates will square off for the third time in 24 hours during a debate this evening at East High School. The event, sponsored by the Denver Democratic Party and Denver Young Democrats, is at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
