Candidates Go On Attack In CBS4's Mayoral Debate
DENVER (CBS4) - June 7 is the date of the runoff election in Denver's mayor's race, and with only a short time to go before the race's end things are getting heated.
At CBS4's Mayoral Debate on Saturday one of the issues that stirred things up was the news that three senior advisors recently left Chris Romer's campaign reportedly due to the negative tone the campaign has adopted.
"Those three people are busy. I'm sorry they're not part of the campaign," Romer said.
"I know these three gentlemen," said Hancock, who has pledged to stay positive in his campaign ads. "They're very ethical gentlemen. They have tremendous character and they would not sit to allow themselves to be mischaracterized or be part of a situation where their ethics might be questioned."
In another heated exchange that played out at two different moments during the hour-long debate, Michael Hancock said he doesn't condone what happened this week when one of the members of his staff heckled Federico Pena while the former Denver mayor was endorsing Chris Romer.
"I did not ask that campaign manager to go, she went on her own volition," he said. "She made the boo boo believing that it was okay and as I explained to her in the consultation once it was brought to my attention is she could not be separated from my campaign and she had to understand that, and she did. I didn't see this as an offense in which to fire someone, I felt it as a teachable moment ... I'm sorry it happened."
That led to an exchange where Romer said he was "heckled by one of Hancock's staff" outside CBS4's studios on his way in to the debate. The member of Hancock's staff "made a very negative remark to me," Romer said.
Later on, Romer question directed a question at Hancock.
"When you're a manager and somebody misbehaves what is the action? I know what I've had to do. I know I've had to fire people on the spot when they misbehave. What do you do when people misbehave? What is your leadership style when somebody clearly steps over the line?"
Hancock started out with a joke in response but then got serious.
"Chris, clearly, I'm sorry someone heckled you coming in and if you want a hug, it's a hug-able moment. I know you need some love."
He then went on to talk about the Urban League and other leadership experience of his.
"Having managed people and having had to make the difficult decision to fire people, I know what a fire-able offense is. I also take advantage of teachable moments. To me, when you have an opportunity to help better someone, that's what you do. That's what leadership does; that's what leadership is. You don't have to ruin someone's life because they made a mistake. If they own up to it -- and they're open to learning -- then you give them an opportunity to learn. But I also know what egregious mistakes are and when someone should be terminated as well."
At one point, Romer went on the attack on Hancock for what he says is in fact a negative approach.
"Michael you've had to apologize to Federico Pena, (mayoral candidates) Theresa Spawn and James Mejia twice for calling them loser. You had one of your paid staff heckle a former mayor. I've seen a new low. I was heckled by one of your people coming into this building today."
"Let me just be straight with you," Hancock said. "No campaign member had ever been told to heckle anybody on my staff. We have a value of positive campaign. We are going to continue to run a positive campaign ... we're proud of the campaign."
