Former Colorado treasurer and current Denver chief financial officer Cary Kennedy was sworn in as the city’s deputy mayor Tuesday morning.
Kennedy will stand first in the mayoral line of succession, acting as chief executive when Mayor Michael Hancock is unavailable.
“Cary is a natural fit to serve as our deputy mayor due to the nature of her position as CFO and her in-depth knowledge of the city,” Hancock said in a news release announcing the appointment.
Kennedy was the third Cabinet position announced by Hancock, days before he was sworn in as Denver’s 45th mayor.
The pick was particularly newsworthy at the time because Kennedy had been a staunch supporter of Chris Romer, Hancock’s opponent in the June 7 runoff election.
Kennedy is earning $147,706 a year under a salary set for the position by the City Council.
She was the state’s treasurer for four years before being ousted in the 2010 election by Republican Walker Stapleton.
“It’s an honor to be chosen to serve as Mayor Hancock’s deputy mayor,” Kennedy said in a statement. “This position comes with great responsibility, but should the need arise, I know I am up to the challenge.”
A 1991 charter amendment changed the line of succession, allowing the mayor to designate a deputy mayor from among his or her department managers. As CFO, Kennedy is responsible for managing the city and county’s finances and presenting the mayor with the annual budget estimate.
