Hancock vs. Giellis: Runoff Election Centers On Fast Growth, Gentrification
DENVER (AP) — A Denver mayoral runoff election characterized by feisty debate over the city's economic and population boom concludes Tuesday, with Michael Hancock seeking a third term against an upstart challenge from urban development consultant Jamie Giellis in the officially nonpartisan election. Hancock insists Giellis, a first-time candidate, lacks the understanding and experience needed to manage growth in a city that's added nearly 100,000 jobs since he was elected in 2011.
"We would much rather govern the challenges of a rising city than govern the challenges of a dying city," Hancock told supporters at a weekend rally.
He touts his credentials as a former president of the Urban League of Metro Denver and city councilman, and his deep ties with Hispanic, African-American and Asian communities, as key to promoting growth while tackling affordable housing, homelessness and gentrification of historic neighborhoods.
Giellis, an Iowa native who's lived in Denver for 13 years, has been heavily involved in the transformation of an old industrial district north of downtown into a thriving community of arts, retail, residential and commercial enterprises.
She said she's seen growing worries among minorities and longtime residents at risk of displacement by gentrification, rising housing prices and big-box residential and commercial development. She's called for satellite offices putting city officials directly into neighborhoods.
"People are done with the old guard," Giellis said. "Denver grew up fast, and you still have a power structure that's trying to hold onto the old ways."
Since 2010, Denver's population has grown from 600,000 to 710,000. Energy, financial, tech and services firms have invested heavily. But U.S. Census data suggest 12% of residents live at or under the federal poverty level, defined as nearly $26,000 for a family of four.
A lack of specific policy proposals may hurt Giellis, said Robert Hazan, who chairs the political science department at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
"As critical as she has been of Hancock, she could not provide policies with some substance on how to change things," Hazan said. "Development itself is not a crime. The serious question is, What are you going to do about it?"
CBS4 MAYORAL RUNOFF CANDIDATE PROFILES: Jamie Giellis | Michael Hancock
In the campaign's final weeks, the candidates engaged in finger-pointing over sexually suggestive texts sent by the mayor and perceived racial insensitivity by his challenger.
Giellis criticized Hancock for suggestive text messages he sent in 2012 to a female police detective who served on his security detail. But he insisted in a recent debate that his actions didn't rise to the level of sexual harassment "because you don't see the back and forth conversation that occurred."
Hancock later apologized for that comment.
His campaign released video of Giellis, who is white, unable to state National Association for the Advancement of Colored People acronym stood for.
It also cited an old Giellis text, since deleted, questioning the need for cities to have Chinatowns. It also made an unfounded claim that Giellis called immigrants living in the country illegally "criminals."
Hancock, who is black, has defended those immigrants and limited local cooperation with federal immigration agents to that required by law. The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition says Giellis shares those views.
"I have a lot to learn in this process," Giellis acknowledged, vowing to work with, and learn from, communities of color she insists are most vulnerable to rising housing prices.
By JAMES ANDERSON Associated Press
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