Inauguration Special Section

THE 68TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONVENES

Newly elected Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and daughter Maisha Pollard are onthe House floor Wednesday morning as the 2011 General Assembly opens. (KOSENA)

House Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, gazes out on theHouse Chamber after taking the podium for the first time. (KOSENA)

FOUNDED IN 1898 VOL. 112, NO. 2 ★ DENVER, CO

JAN. 14, 2011 © ★ $2.00

PLUS ... SPECIAL INAUGURAL SECTION, PAGES 17-24

GUV DELIVERS STATE OF THE STATE, PAGE 39

Sen. MikeJohnston, D-Denver,

appears asfascinated withhis son Emmet

as Emmet is with the

miniature U.S.and Coloradostate flags at

hand. Emmet’stwin brother,

Seamus, is elsewhere in the

Senate chambers

at the moment.

(SCHOENWALTER)

Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Monument, and her son, Nick, recite the Pledge of Allegiance on Opening Day. (KOSENA)

Gov. John Hickenlooper issworn in, inset, while atright, he makes his inauguraladdress to more than 1,000people on the west steps ofthe Colorado state Capitol.

PHOTO BY JASON KOSENA (RIGHT)PHOTO BY JOHN SCHOENWALTER (ABOVE)

THE COLORADO STATESMAN

HICKENLOOPER TAKES REINS

PAGE 17 ★ THE COLORADO STATESMAN ★ JAN. 14, 2011★ HICKENLOOPER INAUGURATION 2011 SPECIAL SECTION ★

HICKENLOOPERInauguration 2011

“Our relationsmust bedefined byrespect, ourdiscoursemust be civiland tolerant.”

Lt. Governor Joe Garcia is flanked by his wife, Claire, at left and Secretary of State Scott Gessler,right, at the inauguration ceremonies held at the state Capitol on Tuesday morning. (KOSENA)

Left, Gov. JohnHickenlooper issworn into hisfirst term asgovernor byColoradoSupreme CourtChief JusticeMichael Benderon Tuesday.

(KOSENA)

The gold dome of the Colorado State Capitol glows the morning of Jan. 11 as Capitol denizensgather below prior to the inauguration of Gov. John Hickenlooper and other statewide officials.

PHOTO BY ERNEST LUNING/THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Gov. John Hickenlooper is seen through a window in the audience risers as he gives his inaugural address on the steps of the state Capitol.

PHOTO BY JASON KOSENA/THE COLORADO STATESMAN

BY MARIANNE GOODLANDTHE COLORADO STATESMAN

It began, as it always has with him,with a walk. Halfway on their walkacross Lincoln Park to the state capitolon Inauguration Day, Gov.-elect JohnHickenlooper and his wife, HelenThorpe, stopped and took a look back,as if for one last goodbye, to theDenver City-County building and tothe life of a big-city mayor.

Moments before, Hickenlooper hadsigned his resignation letter as Denvermayor and was on his way to thecapitol to begin his newest job, asColorado’s 42nd governor.

The inauguration morning at thestate capitol began with the sounds ofcannon fire — the Colorado NationalGuard started testing the cannon atLincoln Park at around 8 a.m., to makesure it would fire in the bitter cold.The temperature at the ceremony’sbeginning, according to The WeatherNetwork, was 16 degrees, and a 12mph wind made it feel like 1 degree.The inauguration weather was believedto be one of the coldest on record.

To ward off the cold, the inaugura-tion committee provided hand warmersto the more than 1,000 ticketed guestsand to those outside the ticketed area.The weather played havoc in one otherregard: A scheduled flyover by four F-16s from the Colorado Air NationalGuard 140th Wing was cancelledbecause of icing problems at BuckleyAir Force Base.

Tuesday’s ceremony was attendedby Democrats and Republicans fromthe General Assembly and the Demo-cratic members of Colorado’s congres-sional delegation. None of Colorado’sRepublican congressmen was present.

The ceremony also included theswearing-in of Attorney General JohnSuthers, to his second term in office,state Treasurer Walker Stapleton, andSecretary of State Scott Gessler.

The assassination attempt on Rep.Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz. and thekilling of six others last Saturday inTucson was on the minds of some ofthose who spoke during the ceremony.Speaker of the House Frank McNulty,R-Highlands Ranch, commented on the“peaceful transition of power. Whenjets fly overhead, we need not worryabout bombs; when arms go up, they’renot fired in hate.” The shooting wasreferenced by outgoing Gov. Bill Ritter,who said that “as a nation, we mustbend toward justice” and the spirit ofbipartisanship. “When we fight, wefight for civil debate, not as enemiesbut as friends.” And Hickenlooper, whoran on a campaign that avoidedpersonal attacks on his opponents, alsoasked for civility. “Our relations mustbe defined by respect, our discoursemust be civil and tolerant.”

After his swearing-in, Lt. Gov. JoeGarcia noted he was the “warm up act”for the governor. “Are you warm yet?”he shouted to the crowd. Garcia, whoon Tuesday was named executivedirector of the Department of HigherEducation, said the children ofColorado are the state’s most impor-tant resource, and the state mustinvest in them and their education justas it does in minerals, water, oil andgas, timber and agriculture.

Garcia also struck the bipartisantone in his remarks. “Too often,government is characterized by someas the problem, or worse, as ourenemy,” he said. But government is notthe enemy. “It is wasteful governmentor inefficient government or govern-


HICKENLOOPER WALKS INTO GOVERNORSHIP State officialssworn into office

Former governors Bill Owens, left, and Bill Ritter, right, share a laugh during the inauguration ofGov. Hickenlooper. Left of Owens is his daughter, Monica, and his former wife, Frances. (KOSENA)

Gov. John Hickenlooper looks at his wife, Helen Thorpe, after the swearing-in ceremony. Joining them is Claire Garcia, holding bouquets of yellowroses from the Colorado Civilian Air Patrol. PHOTO BY JOHN SCHOENWALTER/THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Denver’s “first lady of opera” Ellie Caulkinsbundles up with polar bears against the frigidmorning temperature. (SCHOENWALTER)

Left, formerDenver MayorWellingtonWebb beforethe inaugurationceremony.

PHOTO BYJASON KOSENATHE COLORADOSTATESMAN

Continued on Page 19

The 101st Army Band plays on the west steps of the state Capitol as the audience gathers towitness the inauguration of Gov. John Hickenlooper. PHOTO BY ERNEST LUNING/THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Former U.S. Rep. John Salazar, the incomingadministration’s pick for Commissioner ofAgriculture, chats with Ritter administrationAg Commissioner John Stulp after state offi-cials were sworn in Jan. 11 on the steps of thestate Capitol in Denver. (LUNING)

ment that lacks compassion that is ourenemy. We need some appropriate levelof government…not to control our livesbut to insure order, safety and opportu-nity.”

Hickenlooper took the oath, admin-istered by Chief Justice MichaelBender of the Colorado SupremeCourt, at around 10:40 a.m. It wasfollowed by a brief, 15-minute speech,in which Hickenlooper said his toppriority is jobs. “We will help busi-nesses expand and protect the jobs wehave, we will attract new jobs, and wewill unleash the entrepreneurial spiritthat has always defined Colorado”throughout its history, he said.

Hickenlooper said he planned tosign three executive orders later in theday. The first sets up a partnershipbetween state government and localcommunities to create jobs and to comeup with economic development plans,and Hickenlooper said he will start afour-day statewide trip Friday to beginthat process. The second order sets upa volunteer ambassador’s program topromote the state, a joint effort of theGovernor’s Office of Economic Devel-opment and International Trade andthe Colorado Tourism Office, accordingto CTO Director Al White. The thirdexecutive order “provides for moreflexibility and less bureaucracy” andtells the private sector “that we meanto cut red tape, make licenses andregulations more rational and easier tounderstand.”

State government will be leaner andless partisan under a Hickenlooperadministration, he said. “We recruitedpeople for our cabinet, independent ofpolitical backgrounds, who will put the


AMID COLD TEMPS, BURNING ISSUES

Students and well-wishers brave the cold as temperatures threatened to climb out of singledigits before statewide officials were sworn in on the steps of the State Capitol. (LUNING)

Above, attorney Frances Koncilja and MDCHoldings president Larry Mizel at theswearing-in ceremony. (SCHOENWALTER)

Right, rancher-legislator Sen. Greg Brophypauses outside the state Capitol shortly after

John Hickenlooper’s inauguration.

(SCHOENWALTER)

Teddy Hickenlooper arrives on stageto greet his dad. (SCHOENWALTER)

The Colorado State University-PuebloChamber Choir performs during inauguralceremonies Tuesday morning. (SCHOENWALTER)Continued on Page 20

Continued from Page 18

Gov. John Hickenlooper waves to the crowd while his wife, Helen Thorpe, smiles after the governor’s inauguration. Other elected officials on the steps include, from left, U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, Secretaryof State Scott Gessler, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, Senate President Brandon Shaffer, U.S. Rep. DianaDeGette, U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, State Treasurer Walker Stapleton and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia. (LUNING)

Members of the Colorado National Guard fire off one of the 19 cannon rounds symbolizing the swearing-in of a new governor in Colorado. (KOSENA)

state first and bring commitmentneeded to meet our fiscal challenges…their job will be to help us shrinkgovernment while still being effectiveand efficient” and without a partisanperspective. Under his administrationColorado will be defined as a “beacon ofgood government, where innovationand customer service is part of thedaily exercise of every state employee,”and an emphasis on good governmentwill be the “cornerstone of oureconomic revival.”

Sen. Minority Leader Mike Koppsaid he was thrilled by Hickenlooper’s“commitment to reduce the size of

government, reform burdensome regu-latory policies and create jobs. Itsounds a lot like our agenda. What’snot to like?”

“Colorado, like the country, faces atremendous set of challenges; nonebeing more pressing than creating jobs,which the people of Colorado need, andbalancing the budget, which the peopleof Colorado demand,” said Sen. MichaelBennet, D-Colo. “If anyone’s up to thetask, it’s John.”

Senate President Brandon Shaffersaid that with Hickenlooper’s “commit-ment to partnership we have clearmarching orders: Work together andget it done.”

Some of the members of the

freshmen legislative class for the 68thGeneral Assembly, which beganWednesday, said they enjoyed Tuesday’sceremony and look forward to seeingwhat the new governor accomplishes.

Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, saidshe found the ceremony “touching,”especially seeing the previous governorsand their families, and all of the peoplewho help run Colorado’s government.

Rep. Daniel Pabon, D-Denver, saidthe ceremony was wonderful, despitethe cold. “There was a lot of energy andheat, and we’re moving in the rightdirection for Colorado,” he said. Thegovernor and lieutenant governor “gaveus some great insight on what they’redoing, and I’m looking forward to

seeing those executive orders.”Sen. Jean White, R-Hayden, told The

Colorado Statesmen that the inaugura-tion was “an amazing experience —over the top!” Her husband, formerSen. Al White, said he thought Hicken-looper’s speech was great. “He high-lighted all the reasons we live inColorado and the efforts we all bringwhen we work together to overcomeadversity, and we find ourselves in anuncertain and adverse economy rightnow,” he said. “It’s incumbent on all ofus, no matter what party, to worktogether and pull in the same directionthat benefits all of Colorado.”

— [email protected]


HICKENLOOPER RECEIVES KUDOS FOR SPEECHContinued from Page 19

Members of the Colorado Senate, led by Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-SnowmassVillage, walk down the stairs of the Capitol building to take their seats for theinauguration of incoming Gov. John Hickenlooper. (KOSENA)

Cameras aim at the swearing-in ceremonies of Gov. Hickenlooper and other statewide officials on the west stepsof the Capitol. A theatrical light, top left, helps penetrate the shadows. PHOTO BY ERNEST LUNING/THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Justice Michael Bender, left, swears in Joe Garcia as lieutenant governor. Garcia is joined by his wife, Claire. (KOSENA)

John Hickenlooper and his wife, Helen Thorpe, depart the Denver City-County Building, wherehe had just resigned as mayor, and head off on a short walk to the state Capitol, where hewould be sworn in as Colorado’s 42nd governor. PHOTO BY MARIANNE GOODLAND/THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and his wife,Susan Daggett, wave to supporters as hedeparts the Capitol and gets ready to take hisseat for the inauguration ceremony. FellowDemocratic Sen. Mark Udall is behind them.

PHOTO BY JASON KOSENA/THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Former Republican state Sen. Al White,appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper to leadColorado’s Tourism Office, walks to his seat atthe inauguration ceremony. (KOSENA)


More than 1,000 people watch the inaugural ceremonies. Top inset, Gov. John Hickenloopershares a candid moment with Senate President Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, and Speaker ofthe House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch. PHOTOS BY JASON KOSENA/THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, Republican, holds his hand in the air while beingsworn in to a second full term in office on Tuesday. He is joined by his wife, Janet. (KOSENA)

Above, VIPs Ken Tuchman, Larry Mizel and Rick Sapkin stay warm inside the Capitol on Tuesdayafter the sweating-in ceremony.

Left, outgoing Secretary of State Bernie Buescher, a Democrat, right, shakes hands with formerGov. Bill Owens, a Republican, as he takes his seat on the steps of the state Capitol. (LUNING)

Above, incoming state Treasurer WalkerStapleton, front, and incoming Secretary ofState Scott Gessler, walk down the steps ofthe Capitol before being sworn in. (KOSENA)

Left, state Rep. Nancy Todd and District 7Congressman Ed Perlmutter warm up in theCapitol after Hickenlooper’s swearing-in.

PHOTO BY JOHN SCHOENWALTER/THE COLORADO STATESMAN

BY ERNEST LUNINGTHE COLORADO STATESMAN

At the end of a busy day that beganwith hand-warmers and hot cocoa inbone-chilling temperatures on the stepsof the state Capitol, more than 3,000revelers toasted Gov. John Hicken-looper’s brand-new administration onTuesday at an inaugural barbecue anddance followed by a rock concert thatlasted until the wee hours.

Party-goers of all political stripesmingled at the crowded Fillmore Audito-rium on Denver’s Capitol Hill feasted onColorado-bred delicacies, washed downby an assortment of Colorado wines andbeers — including the specially brewed“Inaugurale” courtesy the pioneeringbrewpub the new governor once owned— to the tune of favorite Colorado musi-cians. Later, more crowds appeared acouple blocks away at the OgdenTheater to hear the chart-topping localprogeny OneRepublic and special guestDeVotchKa.

During a brief interlude at the Fill-more — between scrumptious appetizersand the mouth-watering main dishes,served up buffet-style by caterer Occa-sions by Sandy — all five of Colorado’sliving former governors appeared tooffer advice and wish their most recentsuccessor well.

Former Gov. John Vanderhoof, aRepublican who governed the state from1973 to 1975, appeared in a video clipfrom his home in Grand Junction butthe other four took turns on stage.

Three-term Democrat Dick Lammsaid the press had been fair to him butwarned Hickenlooper about the pitfallsof press conferences. During his earlyyears, he said, a liberal magazine with aminiscule circulation named a U.S.senator from Virginia the “dumbest”member of the upper chamber. “MotherJones had a circulation of maybe 20people at the time, and this senatorcalled a national press conference,”Lamm cracked.

He followed that story with what hesaid was the best advice he could offer:“Don’t screw up on a slow-news day.”

Romer, the Democrat who followedLamm serving his own three terms (thiswas before term limits), led off withpractical advice: “Get a couch,” he toldHickenlooper. “Get a couch. Take a nap,a 10-minute nap every day. It’s the oneway to survive.”

Then Romer riffed on a line fromHickenlooper’s inaugural speech. “Payattention to your mother,” he said,adding that the lesson the new governorshould heed is to “look to the past, bringout those values, and bring them to the

kitchen table.” Romer concluded withwords of encouragement: “If you canjust bring your personality and yourleadership to the collective kitchentables of Colorado, we are going to be abetter state for it.”

Former two-term Gov. Bill Owens —the only Republican on stage, he pointedout — got in a dig at Hickenlooper’smunicipal duties with a joke aboutDenver’s ubiquitous bike lanes and thecold evening’s lingering snow. But thenOwens, who had famously smooth rela-tions with Hickenlooper when theygoverned from both sides of Civic CenterPark, turned serious. “I don’t have anyadvice because I know John Hicken-looper knows how to be governor just ashe knew how to be mayor,” he said.

Owens closed with what he said washis single best piece of advice: “Never,

ever, ever say the entire state is burning,even if it is burning.” He was referringto his own incendiary comments tonational press when the state wasconsumed by forest fires back in 2002.

Former Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democratwho served a single term and had wokenup that day still governing the state,noted that the transition had been swift.“When this is over, it’s really over,” hesaid. It turns out that he and his staffconvened at a local tavern after Hicken-looper had been sworn in. Followingtheir mini-celebration, which involvedsome gifts for Ritter, a waitress stoppedhim on the way out and wished him ahappy birthday.

“I spent the next 20 minutes tellingher what I’ve done the last four years,”Ritter cracked.

Hickenlooper said Romer spent an

evening discussing the rewards of publicservice when the nascent politician wasa brewpub owner considering a run formayor. “He did as much as anybody toconvince me to take that risk and do it,”Hickenlooper said. “So any time my footgoes in my mouth, you can have RoyRomer to blame.” Colorado’s 42ndgovernor added that regular conversa-tions with Lamm, Romer and Ritterhave helped him navigate the shoals ofgoverning.

From the stage, Hickenlooperthanked a slew of relatives in the crowd,including his in-laws and “some cousinsI didn’t know I had,” and noted thatRoxane White, his former mayoral chiefof staff and current gubernatorial chiefof staff, was celebrating a birthday thatnight. Hickenlooper also acknowledgedhis transition director John Hugginsand thanked powerful backers Barryand Arlene Hirschfeld, Steve and CindyFarber and Blair and KristinRichardson.

Hickenlooper closed his remarkssaying his team was ready to get towork the next day. “What’s going tohappen for the next four years is, eitherwe’re going to succeed in reinventinggovernment, or we’re not,” he said.

At first the lines were long but thefood kept coming, offering diners anadventuresome taste of hearty MileHigh fare. Dishes assembled entirelyfrom Colorado ingredients includedpulled pork, brisket bathed in a tangysauce made with Stranahan’s whiskey,and mouth-watering vegetarian tamalesthat encased a local goat cheese. Sidesincluded an aggressive macaroni andcheese studded with green chiles, skilletcorn bread also incorporating greenchile chunks, and the renownedmandarin orange salad featured in theColorado Cache cookbook (the orangescame from out of state, the catereracknowledged). Capping the culinarycelebration were chocolate donut holesencrusted in crumbled toffee made byEnstrom’s.

Dancers kept the floor packedthrough the night to the sounds of localR&B luminary the Hazel Miller Bandand boot-stomping country-swing artistsHalden Wofford and the Hi-Beams.

Tickets to the inaugural dinner-dancewere $100 and anything left over afterexpenses went to three charities,according to Hickenlooper’s inauguralcommittee. The beneficiaries are theGovernor's Residence PreservationFund, the Latin American EducationFoundation and Food Bank of theRockies.



Inaugural party features boots, bolos and barbecue

Former Colorado First Lady Dottie Lammkicks up her heels on the dance floor with herhusband, former Gov. Dick Lamm.

PHOTO BY ERNEST LUNING/THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Right, Hazel Miller and country-swing artistHalden Wofford get a kick out of entertaining.

(STROGOFF)

Olympian and former NFLer Jeremy Bloom mingles at thedinner-dance. Earlier, Bloom spoke to 300 schoolchildren abouthis athletic career and nonprofit foundation at a luncheonthrown by Hickenlooper’s inaugural committee. (LUNING)

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Denver Democrat, and HouseSpeaker Frank McNulty, Republican of Highlands Ranch. (LUNING)

Aurora CityCouncilmemberMollyMarkert,center, withMorganHonea, left,and DaveMyers,right, bothcommunityhealthcenterdirectors.

JenniferRokala, left,state directorfor U.S. Sen.Mark Udall,visits withDenver mayoralcandidate ChrisRomer and hiscampaignmanager, AdamDunstone.

(LUNING)

Denver City Councilman and mayoralcandidate Doug Linkhart mingles. (LUNING)

Governor John Hickenlooper willingly posed with lots ofsupporters, including Carole and Tony Schaffhauser. (STROGOFF)

Gov. John Hickenlooper thanks family and friends at the inaugural barbecue.PHOTO BY JODY HOPE STROGOFF/THE COLORADO STATESMAN


Gully Sanford, director of partnerships atCollege in Colorado, and Dawn Owens, execu-tive director at College in Colorado. (STROGOFF)

Former Governor Roy Romer offers advice to Gov. John Hickenlooper, as three former governors— Dick Lamm, Bill Owens and Bill Ritter — wait for their turns at the microphone. (STROGOFF)

The marquee of the Fillmore auditorium announces the festivities inside. (LUNING)

Two Western-dressed celebrants dance to the tunes of country-swing artists Halden Woffordand the Hi-Beams who appeared on stage at the Fillmore Auditorium Tuesday night. (STROGOFF)

Governor John Hickelooper, left, with good friends Jennifer and Mo Siegel, founder of the Celestial Seasonings Tea Company in Boulder. (STROGOFF)

Young cowpokes at the barbecue Tuesday night take in the musical entertainment. They joined alarge crowd which turned out for the inaugural celebration at the Fillmore Auditorium. (STROGOFF)

Colorado State Chancellor Joe Blake, center,shares a laugh with Trisha Macias, executiveassistant to the President at CSU-Pueblo, left,and Cora Zaletel, executive director ofexternal affairs at CSU-Pueblo. (LUNING)

Denverites Leigh and Michael McMahonarrive at the Governor's Inaugural Dinnerdressed warm and Western. (SCHOENWALTER)

Chris Figge prepares to dig into has plateloaded with vittles at the dinner.

PHOTO BY JOHN SCHOENWALTER/THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Boettcher Foundation President Tim Schultz,Starlight Children’s Foundation ExecutiveDirector Debbie Jessup, and a friend. (STROGOFF)

Above, state Sen. Linda Newell,D-Littleton, shares a hug withColorado’s 42nd governor,John Hickenlooper, at the inau-gural barbecue-dance.

(STROGOFF)

Elise Jones, executive directorof the Colorado EnvironmentalCoalition, forefront, with friendsand the new governor at theinaugural barbecue.

(STROGOFF)

STORY, PHOTOS BY ERNEST LUNINGTHE COLORADO STATESMAN

A couple hours after he was sworn inas Colorado’s 42nd governor, JohnHickenlooper made the trip back acrossCivic Center Park to congratulate ninestudents, along with classmates,teachers and family members, for theirwinning visions of the state. Joined bynewly minted Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia and aslew of Colorado-based achievers, Hick-enlooper told the youngsters to aimhigh at a celebratory luncheon onTuesday at the Denver Art Museum.

“You’re going to be the ones to movethis state forward in the 21st Century,”Hickenlooper said before commiser-ating over the bitter cold that shroudedhis inaugural ceremony, also attendedby the contest winners and theirentourages.

“Was anybody cold out there? It wasfreezing!” Hickenlooper exclaimed.Noting that he’d “thought it wasimportant not to wear gloves,” theotherwise notoriously practical politi-cian continued: “Halfway through thatspeech, my fingers were so cold — I hadno feeling — I couldn’t turn the pages,”he said, demonstrating that he had toflip through his inaugural address withhis elbows.

Then Hickenlooper told the studentshe was prepared to issue his fourthexecutive order — following threeconcerned with economic developmenthe had earlier announced and signed atthe Capitol — to create the Governor’sEducation Leadership Council andwould sign the document at theluncheon.

“It’s going to demonstrate that we’relooking at the arc of your education,not just as high school or elementary

school or college or graduate school, butas one arc,” Hickenlooper said. Hewent on to explain: “You don’t becomedifferent people when you go fromelementary school to middle school,right? When you go from middle schoolto high school, you’re the same person.Why do we have a whole differentsystem, as if you’ve suddenly trans-formed yourself in that one moment.”He said the council would aim to lowerdropout rates, close achievement gapsand remove barriers to college.

Hickenlooper’s transition team chosenine winners from among hundreds of

submissions to the My Colorado contestbased on “creativity, innovation, histor-ical knowledge and passion for thestate.” Dalton Elementary School first-grader Collin Lowe, for instance, wrotea paragraph listing the things Coloradomeans to him, referencing the people(especially his family), sports and themountains. Other winning entriesincluded a clay diorama depicting sitesaround the state built by SkyviewElementary School fourth-graderKenna Thomsen and a series of photo-graphs taken by Peak to Peak charterschool senior Jack Dickson.

Before Hickenlooper arrived, thestudents listened to Denver Broncosquarterback Kyle Orton, Olympian andformer NFL player Jeremy Bloom,Grammy-winning jazz singer DianneReeves and award-winning filmproducer Paula DuPré Pesmen, allColorado residents with advice on over-

coming adversity and giving back to thecommunity.

The roughly 300 in attendancechowed down at room-length schoolcafeteria-style tables on delicious grilledturkey and cheese sandwiches, chips,sliced veggies and enormous brownies.

At the end of his speech, Hicken-looper retold a staple campaign trailanecdote — one he said his staff hasforbidden him from telling again —about a Wyoming student whosuggested the opposite of “woe” is“giddy-up,” and brought down thehouse. Then he took a handful of ques-tions from the audience.

“Is it easy being the governor?”asked a second-grader. “I’ve only beenthe governor for about three hours,”Hickenlooper said. “I don’t know, but Ihope it’s easy.”



Hickenlooper, home-grown achievers laud student winners

Gov. John Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia stand on stage with the nine winners of the MyColorado contest, sponsored by Hickenlooper’s inaugural committee, during a luncheon on Jan.11 at the Denver Art Museum. Left, Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton speaks to school-children who won the My Colorado contest sponsored by Gov. Hickenlooper.

Winners of the My Colorado contest listen to Grammy-winning jazz singer Dianne Reeves talkduring a luncheon honoring the schoolchildren and their classmates.

Second-graders from Fountain International Magnet School in Pueblo enjoy crafts during aluncheon honoring the winners of the My Colorado contest.

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Inauguration Special Section