Denver Mayor Michael Hancock controls a lot of things, but he has absolutely no say when it comes to the weather.
Had it been within his power, it would have been a starlit summer’s eve on Monday when he and wife Mary Louise Lee joined an estimated 1,500 constituents, community leaders and fellow politicians for an al fresco reception that .
But just as the crowd assembled at Denver Botanic Gardens for a night of food, music and revelry, raindrops began to fall.
Fortunately, most everyone had brought an umbrella.
The 6 p.m. affair was the culmination of a busy two days that began with an interfaith prayer service on Sunday at New Hope Baptist Church.
“The best is yet to come,” Hancock promised as such friends as former city attorney Cole Finegan and his wife, Robin; HRM Resources president Roger Hutson; and Larimer Associates CEO Jeff Hermanson congratulated him at the VIP reception that preceded the main event.
“He’s got the wheels rolling,” Mary Louise Lee added. “Some very exciting things are going to happen.”
State Reps. Angela Williams and Janet Buckner were among the guests. So, too, were deputy mayor Cary Kennedy; Denver County Court Judge Gary Jackson and his wife, Regina; Christie Isenberg with daughter Nicole; Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs principals R.D. Sewald and Josh Hanfling; attorney Tyrone Holt and his wife, Mary; Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld; and Frame de Art’s Brian and Shelley Hart.
Hancock was sworn in for his second term as Denver’s 45th mayor earlier Monday at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
Most all of the newly elected City Council members, including Jolon Clark, Wayne New and Kevin Flynn, were on hand to enjoy food from such restaurants as Black Pearl, the Corner Office, Brothers BBQ and bubu.
There was also entertainment by Grammy-nominated jazz musician Gerald Albright and the R&B group Bel Biv DeVoe.
Albright, who has toured with Quincy Jones, Phil Collins and the late Whitney Houston, resides in Castle Rock.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
