Denver mayoral race starts to heat up as candidates trot out endorsements

If the Denver mayor’s race has been less than exciting so far, it probably isn’t from a lack of effort on the part of the candidates. The Colorado Independent gets press releases on a nearly daily basis from one or more of them, announcing rallies, public appearances, fundraising totals and endorsements.

While the first fundraising reports do not have to be filed until Jan. 31, two candidates have announced unofficial totals. Michael Hancock said he has raised $265,000 and James Mejia’s campaign said he had raised $208,500 through the end of 2010.

On the endorsement front, Chris Romer seems to be in the lead, at least in terms of big names. We counted at least 15 current legislators on his list of endorsers, from both parties and from all across the state. They include Sen. John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, Rep. Keith King, R-Colorado Springs, Se. Linda Newell, D-Littleton and Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass Village.

Also lining up for the former state senator and son of former governor Roy Romer are: Norm Brownstein, Zee Ferrufino, Ken Gart, Mannie Rodriguez, Miller Hudson, Ken Chlouber, Del Hock, Sam Zakhem, Mike Shaw, Cindy Parmenter, Michael Sawaya and Mike Stratton.

Endorsers for Hancock include: Wendy Aiello, Chauncey Billups, Terrance Carroll, Evan Dreyer, Tom Gleason, Regis Groff, Beverly Haddon, Happy Haynes, Barry Hirschfeld, Jr., Sen. Michael Johnston, D-Denver, Al LaCabe, Don Marostica, Hazel Miller, Haven Moses, Rico Munn, Gully Stanford, Landri Taylor and Elbra Wedgeworth.

Carol Boigon has announced the following supporters: Holly Barrett, Joan Fitzgerald, Sen. Joyce Foster, D-Denver, Rabbi Steven Foster, Beth Ganz, Larry and Julie Gelfond, Ellen Golembek, C.L. Harmer, Don Kortz, former Congresswoman Betsy Markey, former Lt. Gov. Gail Schoettler and Janine Vanderberg.

James Mejia’s supporters include: Andrew Hudson, Jesse Morreale, Pete Marcyzk, Ellen Hart, Irene Ibarra, Jeff Shoemaker, Cindy Pena and Patricia Barela-Rivera.

Candidate Doug Linkhart’s web site does not yet list endorsers and the campaign did not quickly return an email.

Photo: Michael Hancock by Kersgaard

Scot Kersgaard has been managing editor of a political newspaper, editor and co-owner of a ski town newspaper, executive editor of eight high-tech magazines (where he worked with current Apple CEO Tim Cook), deputy press secretary to a U.S. Senator, and an outdoors columnist at the Rocky Mountain News. He has an English degree from the University of Washington. He was awarded a fellowship to study internet journalism at the University of Maryland's Knight Center for Specialized Journalism. He was student body president in college. He spends his free time hiking and skiing.

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