Submitted by Arapahoe County Democratic Party
Gubernatorial candidate John Hickenlooper addresses supporters in person as well as others 50 other house parties statewide through a conference call and Internet broadcast.
Todd and Elisa Mata of Centennial hosted Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and approximately 100 other guests at a backyard kick-off event for the “Hickenlooper for Governor” campaign on Aug. 11.
The event was live-streamed via the Internet to more than 50 other house parties around Colorado. Hickenlooper answered questions from the audience about the “new energy economy,” bringing jobs to Colorado, supporting small businesses and preserving Colorado’s natural landscape.
Elected officials at the event included Centennial City Council members Vorry Moon, Keith Gardner and Rebecca McClellan, who is also a candidate for county commissioner in District 2; Arapahoe County Treasurer Doug Milliken, Arapahoe County Coroner Dr. Michael Doberson, Centennial City Councilman Keith Gardner and House District 3 State Rep. Daniel Kagan.
Listening to Mayor John Hickenlooper kick off his statewide gubernatorial campaign in Centennial were, front row: Centennial Councilman Vorry Moon, Walter Jones, county chair Mike Hamrick and Ted Fritschel. Back row: Carol Ernst, Centennial Councilwoman and county commissioner candidate Rebecca McLellan and Jim McLellan.
Diana Holland, former president of the Littleton Public Schools Board of Education and coordinator of the Arapahoe County “Hickenlooper for Governor” campaign, also organized the event with the Mata family.
Among other attendees were County Chair Mike Hamrick, as well as Dr. Carol Blackard of the non-partisan citizen activist group ArapaHOPE Community Team.
Other attendees included Donovan O’Dell, founder of the Littleton Democrats Meet-up group, Nancy Cronk of Progressive Outreach Colorado and Daphne Goodwin of Organizing for America.
Hickenlooper, a restaurant owner before he was mayor of Denver, said that owning a restaurant required a similar work ethic to being a public figure.
“I’m used to working 60 hours or more a week doing what I love. I’ve always done that,” he said. “I love the city of Denver and the state of Colorado, and I’m ready for the next challenge as your governor.”
Hickenlooper is running against Republican Dan Maes and third-party Tom Tancredo in the November election.
