Denver Co Elections

Mayor Federico Pena, one of the most prominent Latino elected officials in the United States, announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection when his term ends next June. Pena, 43, was elected mayor in 1983 and previously served two terms as a state legislator. Pena said at a news conference that he had no definite plans after his term ends.

Mayor Wellington Webb was reelected to a second term Tuesday, defeating a city councilwoman after a bruising campaign marked by racial divisiveness and allegations of political cronyism. Webb won, 54% to 46%, against Mary DeGroot, according to the Denver Election Commission. Political observers had said Webb's chances of winning hinged on voter turnout in heavily black and Latino areas.

Wellington Webb was elected the first black mayor of Denver after mounting a walking campaign last month to revive his lagging campaign. Webb defeated District Attorney Norm Early, also black, who was a heavy favorite to win a month ago. With 96% of the precincts reporting, Webb had 57% of the vote to Early's 43%. Early conceded the race. "We together did the impossible," Webb told a gathering of supporters on a downtown Denver street. "This is a victory of people over money.

Wellington Webb was elected the first black mayor of Denver after mounting a walking campaign last month to revive his lagging campaign. Webb defeated District Attorney Norm Early, also black, who was a heavy favorite to win a month ago. With 96% of the precincts reporting, Webb had 57% of the vote to Early's 43%. Early conceded the race. "We together did the impossible," Webb told a gathering of supporters on a downtown Denver street. "This is a victory of people over money.

Mayor Wellington Webb was reelected to a second term Tuesday, defeating a city councilwoman after a bruising campaign marked by racial divisiveness and allegations of political cronyism. Webb won, 54% to 46%, against Mary DeGroot, according to the Denver Election Commission. Political observers had said Webb's chances of winning hinged on voter turnout in heavily black and Latino areas.

Results of Tuesday's municipal election ensured that voters in Denver will elect their first black mayor in a June 18 runoff contest. District Atty. Norm Early was the top vote-getter, but he fell short of a majority needed to succeed Mayor Federico Pena. Early, 45, will face the second-place finisher, City Auditor Wellington Webb, 50, who also is black, in the runoff. With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, Early had 50,004 votes, or 41%, to Webb's 36,674, or 30%.

The city of Denver, controlled by the Ku Klux Klan in the mid-1920s, now is on the verge of electing its first black mayor. In a campaign marked by contrasting personal styles, not racial tension, Norm Early, the city's district attorney since 1983, is expected to top a field of seven candidates for mayor in today's municipal election. He may even gain the majority of votes necessary to stay out of a June 18 runoff election.

Results of Tuesday's municipal election ensured that voters in Denver will elect their first black mayor in a June 18 runoff contest. District Atty. Norm Early was the top vote-getter, but he fell short of a majority needed to succeed Mayor Federico Pena. Early, 45, will face the second-place finisher, City Auditor Wellington Webb, 50, who also is black, in the runoff. With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, Early had 50,004 votes, or 41%, to Webb's 36,674, or 30%.

The city of Denver, controlled by the Ku Klux Klan in the mid-1920s, now is on the verge of electing its first black mayor. In a campaign marked by contrasting personal styles, not racial tension, Norm Early, the city's district attorney since 1983, is expected to top a field of seven candidates for mayor in today's municipal election. He may even gain the majority of votes necessary to stay out of a June 18 runoff election.

Mayor Federico Pena, one of the most prominent Latino elected officials in the United States, announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection when his term ends next June. Pena, 43, was elected mayor in 1983 and previously served two terms as a state legislator. Pena said at a news conference that he had no definite plans after his term ends.