Wellington Webb - article

This article written by Joseph Moore

Wellington E. Webb is an American politician. He served in the Colorado House of

Representatives and was the first African American mayor of Denver, Colorado, serving from
1991 to 2003.
Early life and career
The Webb family relocated from Chicago to the Northeast section of Denver in August 1954,
where the imposing six-foot, five-inch youth became active in sports. He is a graduate of the
city's Manual High School. Webb was an all-conference basketball player at Northeastern Junior
College in Sterling, Colorado, in 1960. He obtained his B.A. in sociology from Colorado State
College in 1964 and his M.A. in sociology from the same school, now known as the University of
Northern Colorado, in 1971.
Career
In 1972, Webb was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives, representing northeast
Denver. In 1977, Webb was selected by President Jimmy Carter to serve as regional director of
the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1981, Colorado Governor Richard
Lamm appointed Webb to his cabinet as executive director of the Colorado Department of
Regulatory Agencies. Webb was elected Denver city auditor in 1987 and served until 1991.
Mayor of Denver
Wellington Webb's 1991 bid for mayor included his "Sneaker Campaign", in which he walked
door to door through a large portion of Denver, introducing himself as a relatively unknown
candidate.
Webb served as mayor of Denver for 12 years, from 1991 to 2003. One highlight of his years in
office was the South Platte River Corridor Project, involving commercial and residential
redevelopment, as well as reclamation of park land, along the South Platte River in central
Denver. He was also mayor at the time of the completion of Denver International Airport,
started by his predecessor, Federico Peña.
In his three terms as mayor of Denver, Webb focused on four major areas: parks and open
space, public safety, economic development and children. Accomplishments during his
administration include a record 40 percent decrease in crime since 1991 as unemployment
dipped below 2 percent. Webb's development projects include the new Denver International
Airport, a new sports stadium, expansion of the Denver Art Museum and a new African
American Research Library.
Webb is the former president of the National Conference Democratic Mayors, the past
president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and National Conference of Black Mayors.
Later career
He lectures frequently on civic issues and was a guest lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Webb collaborates closely with his wife, former Colorado State Representative Wilma Webb.
In 2001, Webb served on the selection committee for the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban
Excellence.
Webb was mentioned in the documentary Bowling for Columbine during a speech by National
Rifle Association president Charlton Heston. In April 1999, shortly after the high school shootings
at Columbine High School near Denver, Heston claimed that Webb had asked him not to come
to Denver.
Although he briefly sought the office of chairman of the Democratic National Committee in late
2004, Webb dropped out of the race in late January 2005 and endorsed fellow candidate
Howard Dean, who went on to win the chairmanship. Webb was well known as the only African-
American candidate for the DNC chairmanship.
The Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building, completed in Fall 2002, was named in honor
of Webb. It houses some forty municipal agencies and divisions from the City and County of
Denver, as well as the office of the District Attorney.
In November 2006 The Wellington E. Webb Center for Primary Care opens at Denver Health
Medical Center, becoming the first in the country community health center adjacent to an acute
care hospital.
In February 2007, Webb published his autobiography, The Man, the Mayor and the Making of
Modern Denver, co-written by former Colorado journalist Cindy Brovsky.
In 2008, Webb supported Barack Obama and Joe Biden as one of Colorado's presidential
electors.
Personal life
He has been married to Wilma Webb since 1969. They have four children.
Notes
External links
- Focuses mostly on Webb's service as city auditor
- Information and pictures