Thirty-five years ago this week: Wellington Webb’s election as Denver auditor, beating opponent Bill Schroeder, came as a shock to few. The candidate had long been considered the favorite for victory and after winning nearly 64% of the vote, Webb said his hope had been rewarded.
“I’ve always been optimistic that I had a great opportunity to win because I felt the people of Denver were looking for a new direction in the auditor’s office,” Webb told the Colorado Statesman. “My considerable experience in management and politics topped the bill.”
Webb said the people of Denver were looking for a new program and felt he was the best one to deliver.
“The auditor shouldn’t be a captive of the mayor or the city council,” Webb said. “We need a cooperative program … The margin of victory was a mandate that Denver voters agreed with the program I outlined in my campaign.”
Webb was not only a former Denver lawmaker, but had also served as one of Gov. Dick Lamm’s cabinet members. Her tenure in the governor’s office had won her considerable support not only from Lamm, but also from Colorado’s first female congresswoman, U.S. Representative Pat Schroeder, D-CD1, and from the Democratic Central Committee in Denver, which contributed 2 $500 to his campaign.
“I think because of my participation in the ballot, it certainly increased the turnout in northeast Denver,” Webb said, adding that his presence helped bring out the minority vote. “It’s where I live, it’s where I was raised, it’s the area I represented in the legislature. It’s the area my wife represents now, and she’s in been in the Legislature longer than I have been. By virtue of having Webb’s name on the ballot, it increased voter turnout and increased interest in the mayoral election as well as the election of the verifier.
The operation of the auditor’s office was going to be very different, Webb pointed out, than under his predecessor Mike Licht. Webb promised to fix the problems quickly before they get out of hand and to simplify and synchronize the accounting systems between the mayor and the auditor’s office.
“They will be able to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges,” Webb said.
With so much work to do to reform the auditor’s office, Webb said he has no ambitions for the mayor’s office.
“I did it in 1983,” he said. “However, I’m just concerned about the swearing in…I tried to serve the people of Denver and I’m so glad they chose me for this job. My only ambition is to be the best auditor in town Denver has ever had.
Twenty-five years ago: The Colorado American Constitution Party, affiliated with the U.S. Taxpayer Party, which has billed itself as the seat of morality and family values in state politics, called on its members to boycott Disney and its products.
ACP State President Tim Leonard and Vice President Leslie Hanks announced their support for the Southern Baptist Convention’s resolution to ‘refrain from associating with the Disney Company and any of its related entities. “.
The SBC and ACP made their announcement following Disney’s decision to extend family benefits to gay employees.
“Southern Baptist leaders encourage their members to act in a manner consistent with their conscience,” Leonard said. “Disney’s corporate management is making a concerted effort to use the company’s reputation to promote immoral behavior diametrically opposed to building strong families and stable societies.”
Hanks called on shareholders to “divest from immoral profits” and argued that “only a reduction in the company’s revenue stream would change its behavior”.
Rachael Wright is the author of the Captain Savva Mystery series, with degrees in political science and history from the University of Colorado Mesa and is a contributing writer at Colorado Politics and The Gazette.
