March 18, 2011 12:19 AM UTC

PeГ±a Endorses Mejia (with video)

• 0 Comments
• by: Mejia for Mayor

At a press conference yesterday, James Mejia received the endorsement of Secretary Federico Peña. We won’t make a habit of posting press releases here, but wanted to share the announcement itself as well as video of Secretary Peña discussing his reasons for endorsing James.  Secretary Peña talked with Mario Solis-Marich about his endorsement yesterday afternoon and audio of that interview is up on our website at https://bit.ly/m4maudio

(Our apology to ColoradoPols who let us know that they have not been receiving our press releases – press list updated!)

Peña Endorses Mejia

Citing experience & vision, says Mejia is “a leader for our times”

DENVER –  Denver Mayoral Candidate James Mejia today received the endorsement of former Denver Mayor Federico Peña. At a press conference in Denver’s Sun Valley neighborhood where Mejia was presenting his “Denver’s Next Frontier” plan for development of the South Platte River and Denver’s Infill Projects, Peña announced his endorsement of Mejia for Mayor of Denver.

“James Mejia is ready to lead Denver into this decade with an enhanced vision for our City. His experiences operating City agencies, making tough budget decisions, helping to create jobs, and improving education make him a leader for our times. James brings people together to solve complex challenges and he will serve all Denverites with that same passion”.

Peña, who served as Mayor of Denver from 1983 to 1991 and later served as Secretary of Transportation from 1993 to 1997 and Secretary of Energy from 1997 to 1998 under President Clinton, called on Denverites to “Imagine a Great City” when he ran for Mayor in 1983. During his campaign, Peña appeared in commercials walking along the Central Platte River in an area dominated by abandoned warehouses and empty land filled with garbage and debris along the railroad tracks – an area that would grow to be LoDo, one of the most vibrant areas of Denver today.

“It is a privilege and an honor to have the support of a friend, a mentor and one of the most talented minds in our community,” Mejia said. “Decades ago Federico Peña dared us to imagine a great city. It will be an honor to work with him to fulfill some of that vision.”

In Mejia’s “Denver’s Next Frontier” plan released today (and available online at https://bit.ly/hvIGBN), Mejia wrote that “Denver’s history is filled with defining moments: during the mid-1800’s it was building a railroad to Cheyenne connecting us to the rest of the country.  From the 1980’s through the 1990’s it was building the Denver International Airport and the revitalization of Lower Down Town Denver (LoDo).  Today, as we emerge from a recession that has devastated our economy, we are again at a defining moment.  We can choose to maintain the status quo, hoping for economic recovery or we can confidently shape our own future and Move Denver Forward.  Denver’s Next Frontier is about looking within to create jobs, building on our foundation as a great city and taking bold steps to make Denver a destination for business and visitors alike.”