Kenney and Ensslin Do the Mayor’s Race

Does Mayor Hancock get to 50 percent and avoid a runoff or are 60 percent of the voters looking for change, at least in the first round? If it’s change, which of the three leading challengers will be ahead on May 7?

Andrew Kenney of the Denver Post and John Ensslin of Colorado Politics are profiling the candidates and the race’s trajectory in their respective publications. Some observations after doing interviews:

Penfield Tate knows Denver, has a good reputation and seems ready for the job. Tate believes Denver’s quality of life is slipping away. If voters want experience and a long political track record, Tate wins.

Lisa Calderón represents the most dramatic amount of change. A true outsider who will take on the system. If voters believe a major shake-up is needed, Calderón is the candidate.

Jamie Giellis has less government experience or local knowledge, but has new ideas and a track record of solving development-type problems. Is she the new ideas candidate that appeals to Millennials?

Even if Hancock doesn’t get to 50 percent, the race is not over. Both Federico Peña and Wellington Webb recovered in run-offs. In fact, challengers beat them (Don Bain and Mary DeGroot, respectively) in the first round, but they still managed to win.

Read:
Denver Post: Penfield Tate: Former lawmaker warns that Denver is “disappearing” amid development and scandals
Colorado Politics: Meet Denver's next mayor: The candidates charge into a pivotal election