Mayor Hickenlooper, 'The Other Skinny Democrat,' on the DNC and Sen. Obama

July 30, 12:23 AMDenver People ExaminerErnie Tucker

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Mayor Hickenlooper...ready for the city
close-up at the DNC?

Q. Have you studied Chicago and how Mayor Richard Daley handled, or mishandled, the protests which turned violent at the Democratic convention in 1968? Recreate 68 seems to be invoking that sort of protest again?    

I was a kid back then, but certainly I have looked at what happened. Recreate 68 is talking. I’m not sure that many people are listening. Most of the protesters I’ve talked to don’t want anything to do with Recreate 68. They’re going to try and provoke violence. But most people we talked to, that’s the last thing they want to do.

Q: Are other mayors in the region onboard with the DNC? Have you heard any grumbling that they are having to send their police to help the DNC, even though it isn't in their municipalities?               I’ve had no pushback. We are a collaborative region. When we got FasTracks, 32 mayors out of 32 mayors – Republicans and Democrats, big cities and little towns – 32 out of 32 supported it. We do things differently. We’re not forcing police officers from other jurisdictions. They all volunteered. It’s their recognition that it’s not just about the city, it’s about the region.

Q: What about yourself compared to Sen. Obama? Former Mayor Federico Pena finds a lot in his personality that’s similar to that of Sen. Obama, in that Pena was an outsider who got elected. How about you?
Our careers are very different. But when I ran in 2003, I started out and no one thought I had a chance. I had 3 percent in the polls. I talked about, and my whole campaign was based around, change. [The idea] that you could be positive and optimistic, transparent and accountable.

If you actually squint your eyes, his campaign is almost a mirror image of what we said we were going to come in and do with local government. He’s doing national government, which is obviously a much bigger endeavor. But I think all the cynics were saying, “You can’t change government. You can’t improve outcomes. It’s too big a bureaucracy." We’re doing it. We’ve got 3-1-1, we’ve got all these new services; reduced chronic homelessness; two straight years with double-digit reductions in crime; less employees in the city than we did when I got elected. You can make a difference. You can change. It’s slow and hard work, but you can.

Let’s not do things the way we’ve always done them. Let’s explore new ways of doing things. I’m not being hogtied by the past. And that’s exactly how he talks about the future of this country.

Q: Have you had a chance to pass along some of your philosophies to the Obama campaign?
(Laughs). He doesn’t need to tap into me. He’s got a lot of people helping him. But we had dinner together about 16 or 18 months ago, in a small group, and I also got to introduce him at the Tattered Cover when he was here on a book tour.  So, we’re no strangers. I listen to him speak, and how he frames issues. I get inspired.

Q: What role will you play at the convention? Will you introduce Sen. Obama at Invesco?
I have no idea. My goal is to make sure this convention comes off without a hitch: The logistics, that the mobility works, that it is safe and secure, people need to get to where they need to get to. Beyond that, I haven’t given any thought to it. I’m not experienced at these things. I have no idea.

Q: The thought of reaching out West is part of some pundits' speculations about a vice-presidenial choice though, isn't it? My priorities are a safe, secure convention, and making sure that we put on an event that the whole world admires. And I think Barack Obama can take care of himself. He doesn’t need me to tell him how to campaign. Or even wish him luck. What he expects from me and the city is a world-class convention, and we’re going to do everything we can to give him that.