February 04, 2011 11:20 PM UTC

Bill Vidal To Shake Things Up?

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• by: Colorado Pols

Rumors were swirling this week about business and community leaders urging Denver Mayor Bill Vidal to run for a full term as mayor. Vidal took the reins at City Hall after Governor John Hickenlooper officially stepped down in mid-January.

If there’s any truth to the rumors, Vidal’s presence in the race would assuredly shake things up. His compelling personal narrative of being a Cuban refugee and growing up in a Pueblo orphanage was documented in his 2007 memoir, and his managerial style during his time as Manager of Public Works for the city has been compared to that of Hickenlooper’s.

His experience prepares him well for the demands of a Mayoral candidate, and though he would be entering the race much later than most of the other candidates, his candidacy would have to be qualified as a game changer. His connections to the business community are well known, so the fundraising is there.

There’s also another rumor that would be even more game-changing: Vidal’s supporters are trying to wrangle an endorsement from Hickenlooper himself. Combined with all of the other factors mentioned above, this news could be troublesome for the current pack of candidates.