With this morning’s announcement that Janice Sinden has been selected as incoming Mayor Michael Hancock’s first chief-of-staff, a lot of insiders have focused their attention on discussing Allegra “Happy” Haynes. The influential former City Councilwoman and longtime Hickenlooper advisor seemed a likely choice for the job; her experience working with Hick paired with her ability to nuance City Council would make her the perfect fit for Hancock: she could help him immediately adapt to the challenges of his new job while at the same time connecting Hancock to all the successes under now Governor John Hickenlooper.
We’ve heard that, like Terrance Carroll, Happy could’ve had the job if she wanted it. She obviously has other plans, though, if this press release we received is any indicator:
Happy Haynes Announces Candidacy for At-Large Seat on DPS Board
JULY 1, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peter Schottenfels (o) 720-295-8364
Happy Haynes Announces Candidacy for Denver School Board At-Large on Thursday evening.
Dr. Evie Garrett Dennis says Haynes “has the experience and passion to be a leader on the School Board.”
DENVER- Former City Council member Allegra “Happy” Haynes announced her candidacy for the at-large seat on the Denver Public Schools Board of Education to a crowded room of family, friends and supporters on Thursday evening at Bogey’s on the Park. Happy for Denver’s Kids co-chairs attorney David Foster, former councilwoman Rosemary Rodriguez and former DPS Superintendent Dr. Evie Garrett Dennis introduced Haynes.
“Happy builds bridges,” said campaign Co-Chair David Foster. “She has the mind-set, depth of knowledge and ties to the city to make her an invaluable member to the most important governing body in our city,” he added.
A lifelong Denverite and proud graduate of Denver Public Schools, Haynes served on City Council from 1990 to 2003 and as Council President from 1998 to 2000. Haynes served as a senior staff member for Mayor John Hickenlooper. Then in 2005, Haynes joined then-DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet as Assistant for Community Partnerships.
Happy Haynes is running for the at-large seat on the Denver Public Schools Board of Education. The seat is currently held by Theresa Peña, who is term-limited. The election will be held on November 1st, 2011.
Haynes is obviously incredibly well-known within Denver, though maybe not always for the right reasons. Still, she will be a force to be reckoned with in any campaign for School Board; she knows all the people you need to know to win this sort of election.
Happy will face some very vocal opposition, though, if she’s perceived as a reform-minded candidate. In fact, despite her connections and name ID, her entire chance at winning will rest on her ability to justify her relationship with both Michael Bennet and Tom Boasberg and the work they’ve done during their respective tenures at DPS. We can think of a lot of opponents who’d be thrilled to take Happy down just to eliminate Boasberg’s 4-3 board majority.
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Does Happy know that the BOE position is unpaid? Her current job with DPS is well paid.
http://www.bizjournals.com/den…
Looks like she was already taken care of. Their “real” motives usually get taken care of before we all hear about their “public” ones.
So you joined just to post nonsensical attacks on Happy? That’s cool. Really looking forward to seeing more from you. You seem neat, credible, etc.
…
Haynes is an incredibly strong candidate. Everyone knows she wasn’t interested in the Hancock job. This post is nonsense, Happy has been talking about running for DPS board for months. She filed her committee almost a month ago.
http://tracer.sos.colorado.gov…
Pretty sure that after working for DPS for years Happy’s motives are pretty clear: she wants to work hard for Denver’s kids and supports reform, unlike the Andrea Merida/Guerin Green/Arturo Jimenez/Chris Scott etc. cabal that the above post is almost certainly a sock puppet for.
I didn’t join just to rag on Happy. That just happened to be my first comment posted; and thank you for the warm welcome.
I like Happy. I’ve worked with Happy. I’m going to happily and enthusiastically vote for Happy. I like the DPS “reformers.” I’m actually an active part of that group. I love Michael Bennet and his vision for the district, and in my opinion Tom Boasberg is a brilliant Super.
I’m just not that fond of the arrogance with which the very few who are running the slate of “reform” candidates act. I think putting over a million dollars (and it will be over a million) into putting three puppet on to the board shouldn’t be how these things happen.
I know I’m probably overly idealistic. And, before you get too into hating me right off the bat, you should know that I will be right there with you the next time there is an opportunity to beat up on Ben Gelt…
I have sent Happy dozens of emails about DPS issues as a parent, and left her several phone messages over the years. She has NEVER responded. I know many others who have had the same experience. I will never vote for her.
I remember when the BOE would visit in the neighborhoods or there would be community meetings and the actual elected representatives would actually take questions from the audience. But since at least Manual in 2006, there would be a community meeting and Happy would run it….the BOEs did not even have to show up….That is, of course, is not Happy’s fault.
But I don’t like imperial boards and I would hate to see the tradition continued with a Haynes election.