July 06, 2011 01:01 AM UTC

DPS Consolation Prize for Happy Haynes

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• by: Colorado Pols

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.