Denver parks director Allegra “Happy” Haynes. (Jon Murray, The Denver Post)
Two issues involving high-profile local public officials will be the focus of discussion by the Denver Board of Ethics this week.
On Wednesday, the board is expected to start a discussion delayed from last month about ethical advice requested by Allegra “Happy” Haynes, the new executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation.
Its members also will field a request for advice from City Councilman Rafael Espinoza, according to Michael Henry, the board’s director.
Denver City Councilman Rafael Espinoza. (Campaign photo)
Espinoza soon will be asked to vote on which he signed as one of several applicants, before taking office. Presumably, the board will consider whether to advise him to recuse himself from participating in any votes or council discussions (or steps short of those, such as simply disclosing his role in the matter).
Haynes’ request for advice is a little more complicated.
Besides being , she’s the president of the Denver Public Schools board. And she’s running for re-election to her at-large school board seat Nov. 3.
The ethics board while serving as both parks director, which is her full-time job, and as a volunteer school board member. It’s an issue that’s been raised by her school board election opponent, Robert Speth, who also questions the time commitment for two big public roles.
DPS and the parks department often work out cooperative use agreements for park space and have other joint issues. Interestingly, though, two previous Denver parks directors have concurrently served on the school board, making this well-trod territory.
