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Best Political Upset

John Hickenlooper elected mayor of Denver

It shouldn't have come as such a surprise. Not if you'd looked at the changing demographics of Denver. Not if you'd read Richard Florida's The Rise of the Creative Class. Not, really, if you'd ever even seen geeky beer baron John Hickenlooper work a room, even if that room was the bar at the Wynkoop Brewing Co. right around closing time, when Hickenlooper would start waving his arms as he described some idea that would be really great for this city. An idea like saving the Mile High Stadium name -- a campaign he lost, sort of, but which paved the way for his mayoral bid. No, it shouldn't have come as a surprise, but when Hickenlooper jumped into an already crowded field of mayoral candidates and proceeded to speed past all of them, it shocked the hell out of pundits and power brokers alike. More surprising still: the impressive job Hickenlooper's done thus far.

Best Political Upset

John Hickenlooper elected mayor of Denver

It shouldn't have come as such a surprise. Not if you'd looked at the changing demographics of Denver. Not if you'd read Richard Florida's The Rise of the Creative Class. Not, really, if you'd ever even seen geeky beer baron John Hickenlooper work a room, even if that room was the bar at the Wynkoop Brewing Co. right around closing time, when Hickenlooper would start waving his arms as he described some idea that would be really great for this city. An idea like saving the Mile High Stadium name -- a campaign he lost, sort of, but which paved the way for his mayoral bid. No, it shouldn't have come as a surprise, but when Hickenlooper jumped into an already crowded field of mayoral candidates and proceeded to speed past all of them, it shocked the hell out of pundits and power brokers alike. More surprising still: the impressive job Hickenlooper's done thus far.

Best Political Challenge

John Hickenlooper v. Tony Young

You'd think that besting seven other candidates in the mayoral race would be enough for John Hickenlooper. But you'd be wrong. Denver's new mayor is always up for a challenge. During his campaign, he promised that he'd visit a Denver school every week, and while in an elementary-school gymnasium on one of those visits, he spotted a set of climbing ropes hanging from the ceiling. On the spot, he challenged mayoral aide/driver/much younger guy Tony Young -- and then proceeded to win a race to the top, while amazed students cheered below.

Best Political Challenge

John Hickenlooper v. Tony Young

You'd think that besting seven other candidates in the mayoral race would be enough for John Hickenlooper. But you'd be wrong. Denver's new mayor is always up for a challenge. During his campaign, he promised that he'd visit a Denver school every week, and while in an elementary-school gymnasium on one of those visits, he spotted a set of climbing ropes hanging from the ceiling. On the spot, he challenged mayoral aide/driver/much younger guy Tony Young -- and then proceeded to win a race to the top, while amazed students cheered below.

Second-Best Political Challenge

Rocky Mountain Progressive Network

In February, as legislators began professing their support for Marilyn Musgrave's Federal Marriage Amendment, the Rocky Mountain Progressive Network asked all elected officials who support a ban against gay marriage to sign a "fidelity pledge."

Second-Best Political Challenge

Rocky Mountain Progressive Network

In February, as legislators began professing their support for Marilyn Musgrave's Federal Marriage Amendment, the Rocky Mountain Progressive Network asked all elected officials who support a ban against gay marriage to sign a "fidelity pledge."

Best Educational Challenge

Cole Middle School

During another visit to another school -- Cole Middle School -- earlier this year, Mayor Hickenlooper promised that if the students raised their CSAP scores up from the basement where they've been languishing, the city would make sure that when those kids were ready to go to college, there would be money available. But first they had to be ready for this spring's tests. So the Denver Public Schools Foundation and DPS organized a massive volunteer tutoring program, and dozens of Denverites volunteered several mornings this winter to help prepare sixth- and seventh-graders -- who themselves turned out in record numbers. And on Saturday mornings!

Best Educational Challenge

Cole Middle School

During another visit to another school -- Cole Middle School -- earlier this year, Mayor Hickenlooper promised that if the students raised their CSAP scores up from the basement where they've been languishing, the city would make sure that when those kids were ready to go to college, there would be money available. But first they had to be ready for this spring's tests. So the Denver Public Schools Foundation and DPS organized a massive volunteer tutoring program, and dozens of Denverites volunteered several mornings this winter to help prepare sixth- and seventh-graders -- who themselves turned out in record numbers. And on Saturday mornings!

Best Political Appointment -- State

Russell George, Colorado Department of Natural Resources

How does a state agency save money? If it's the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, you hire an outside consulting firm, order your employees to do the firm's work in finding ways to cut costs, and then give the firm a share of both the money saved and new money raised -- from fees imposed on Coloradans using this state's natural resources. That was the plan, anyway, under former director Greg Walcher, who left the department early this year with an eye to running for Congress (and no doubt running from critics). In his place, Governor Owens came up with another kind of political animal altogether: former legislator Russell George, whose background as head of the Division of Wildlife, work as an attorney in Rifle, and record as speaker of the House in the General Assembly makes him an ideal choice to forge coalitions to clean up the environment. And that's just the environment inside the Department of Natural Resources. If he can fix that, just imagine what he can do for the great outdoors.

Best Political Appointment -- State

Russell George, Colorado Department of Natural Resources

How does a state agency save money? If it's the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, you hire an outside consulting firm, order your employees to do the firm's work in finding ways to cut costs, and then give the firm a share of both the money saved and new money raised -- from fees imposed on Coloradans using this state's natural resources. That was the plan, anyway, under former director Greg Walcher, who left the department early this year with an eye to running for Congress (and no doubt running from critics). In his place, Governor Owens came up with another kind of political animal altogether: former legislator Russell George, whose background as head of the Division of Wildlife, work as an attorney in Rifle, and record as speaker of the House in the General Assembly makes him an ideal choice to forge coalitions to clean up the environment. And that's just the environment inside the Department of Natural Resources. If he can fix that, just imagine what he can do for the great outdoors.

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