DU’s campus was the scene of yet another Johnston vs. Brough fixture in what is a hotly-contested runoff race for the Denver Mayor’s office.

Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough broadcasted their campaign platforms and ambitious visions for the city of Denver in a forum held in Sturm Hall’s Davis Auditorium in April. They returned to the same stage last Thursday, this time with two moderators, brief cameos from Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and Korbel School of International Studies Dean Fritz Mayer and a debate between the candidates.

The debate was hosted by the DU Center on American Politics and the DU Scrivner Institute of Public Policy, in partnership with the Denver Gazette, Colorado Politics and Biennial of the Americas. The moderators featured Dr. Seth Masket, a DU professor of political science and Director of the Center on American Politics, and Luige del Porto, Editor at the Denver Gazette and Colorado Politics.

Chancellor Haefner and Dean Mayer welcomed the audience and introduced the debate.

In his opening statement, Chancellor Haefner expressed two elements that spoke to the value of the debate: first, the civic engagement exhibited by attendees and second, the civil discourse and diversity of ideas shown by its candidates.

“Right now, in our country, in our communities, we need to build more muscle strength in regard to these two important topics,” Haefner said. 

Much like the general municipal election, the debate was sparsely attended by students, save a selected few who were chosen to ask the candidates questions of their own. College-age voters made up 6,526 of the more than 400,000 total ballots cast in the Denver Mayoral Election in April, less than 1.5%. 

The candidates addressed the laundry list of issues that have been hot topics throughout the campaign, including housing, transportation, safety and qualifications. None of the allotted one-minute rebuttals were used during the one-hour debate. The candidates rarely fundamentally disagreed on policy, though the plans they offered differed.

Qualifications under scrutiny

To start, the candidates were asked to share what qualified them to potentially fill the role of Denver mayor for the next 12 years. Known for its “strong-mayor city” status, the two candidates in pursuit of the title have long histories in Denver politics.

Johnston, a former high school principal, touted the achievements of his time in the Colorado State Senate and as the CEO of the education-oriented nonprofit Gary Community Ventures. Brough, in turn, pointed to her time as former Mayor John Hickenlooper’s Chief of Staff, CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, head of Human Resources for the city and as a legislative analyst for the Denver City Council.

Both candidates have received criticism for misconstruing their records. In his statement, Johnston cited his contributions to HB22-1295, which provided universal preschool in the state of Colorado. Critics have noted that Johnston, while a part of the effort, was not at the forefront, as he earlier stated.

Brough, whose campaign relies heavily on her dense experience at the state level, has been hit for her time in the Chamber of Commerce, where her pro-business platform during her tenure contrasted with the progressive policy outlined in her campaign.

Student concerns gain a platform

Several students were permitted to ask pre-vetted questions to the candidates. The first from Jacob Topping, a masters student in Public Policy, who asked, “What are your plans for addressing the shortage of affordable housing in Denver, and how are they different from that of your opponent?”

“In one minute?” Brough exhaled, “I’m gonna go fast.”

Referencing a policy utilized in Munich, Germany, Brough suggested the development of affordable housing on public land and parking lots, emphasizing the importance of homeownership as a means of building wealth. Johnston referenced his policy to limit rent based upon revenue, capping it at 30% of the income of the teachers, firefighters and others unable to afford Denver’s rising prices.

Masket jumped in, directly after, asking both candidates for their thoughts on the recent termination of Governor Polis’ affordable housing bill. The bill would have allowed for denser constructions in neighborhoods across Colorado to address a need for more units, but was widely contested by local municipalities of varying income. 

While both agreed that more density was necessary, Johnston argued that local entities should be pushed to move faster, be accountable, and be incentivized in order to earn their support.

“They will have to add density, but that allows those cities and counties to make the decisions themselves on where to add that density,” he said.

Brough advocated for development near public amenities and transit to serve as a multifaceted solution to issues of housing, climate and public irrigation. In contrast, Johnston once again referenced his plan to build over 25,000 tiny homes over the next eight years, forming micro-communities, a policy he has championed as having the potential to “solve homelessness” in one year.

Undergraduate student Kania Campbell asked the candidates what plans they had to address gang violence in the region. 

Johnston began, outlining the profundity of the issue with reference to rising assault and car theft in Denver and touting the importance of early intervention. He harkened back to his time spent in Park Hill with activist and former mayoral candidate, Terrence Roberts, who was critical of Johnston in the earlier debates, when Roberts’ dismissal led to an increase in youth crime.

Robyn Biladeau asked, as a University of Denver student, what the candidates would do about the often unreliable RTD. Johnston and Brough empathized with the frustrations around RTD, and both committed to ask RTD for passes to be free for students.

On Immigration

After addressing the incoming expiration of Title 42 and Texas Governor Greg Abbot relocating dozens of migrants to the city, moderator del Porto forced the candidates to confront the headline-dominating issue of immigration. 

“I do not have it as part of my platform to mobilize the national guard and invade Texas,” Johnston quipped.

Returning to a serious tone, he revealed that “more than 70% [of immigrants] are not actually trying to get to Denver,” but instead other locations throughout the U.S.  

“We can’t stop people who would rather play political games with people’s lives than actually help them get to successful services, but what we can do is refuse to be a part of it,” Johnston said. He pledged to collaborate with regional communities and border cities as “willing partners,” and work with the federal government in addressing costs.

Brough contended that it was necessary to “get creative” beyond the permission of the federal government. “It is ridiculous for us, as a nation, to say, ‘you can seek asylum, but you can’t work during the 18 months or so that it takes us to sort out your status.’ I would find a way to make sure everyone gets the chance to work,” she said.

Mayor Hancock’s unseen presence

As the two candidates vie to succeed outgoing Mayor Michael Hancock, who has served as Mayor of Denver since 2011, the candidates were explicitly asked if they were actively seeking the Mayor’s endorsement in the race, and what policy of the Hancock administration they would retain and advance under their own.

While both acknowledged they had met with and consulted Hancock on various issues, both rejected that they were seeking his endorsement, concurring they did not believe he had any plans to personally nor politically get involved in this year’s race.

As for Hancock policies the candidates would keep, Brough pledged to expand the S.T.A.R. (Support Team Assisted Response) program, saying, “We could probably double that program, so not only would I keep it, I’d continue to expand it…We just don’t have enough officers responding.”

Johnston said that he would keep the MyDenver Card, building on it for after-school, summertime and weekend programs for lower-income students.

On Housing, Crime and Spending

The candidates reaffirmed tackling crime and addressing pervasive homelessness as priorities of their campaigns and hopeful mayoral administrations.

Johnston identified crime and housing as the two greatest issues facing Denver’s downtown, pledging to hire an additional 200 officers and first responders.

“…and that means real, authentic community-based policing…You need that kind of visibility and presence to give people a sense of safety back in downtown, and by giving people access to housing who are currently unhoused,” he said. 

He further touted his plan to develop micro-communities to address the city’s housing crisis. “We spend a lot of time chasing people, and not actually a lot of time providing services. That’s why when we talk homelessness, my plan is really about moving people to micro-communities where they have safe, dignified, stable housing, and you have an address where people can find you.”

Brough further noted the importance of revitalizing the Denver downtown to improve public safety and ensure it retains and attracts businesses.

The candidates differed in where they would decide to cut spending, with Brough identifying the housing stability budget as her choice, and Johnston identifying his choice as being the “inefficiently” spent funds trying to provide services for those on the street.

Denver as a global city

The Biennial of the Americas, a festival that celebrates Denver’s identity as a cross-cultural and international city and one of the sponsors of the evening’s debate, inspired a question about Denver’s place as a global city.

Johnston’s response raised values of equity.

“What you don’t have is a story of two Denvers, where some neighborhoods are really thriving, and others are really struggling,” he said.

The following question followed the same vein, asking the candidates to reflect on Denver’s airport.

“Frankly, [Denver Airport] is literally our port,” said Brough. She talked about the importance of DEN as a world connector and a competitive field for Denver’s economy.

Johnston’s response posed lofty questions about the potential of the airport as a leading brand.

“Could we set a moon-shot goal to have Denver International Airport be the first airport that operates without the use of fossil fuels?” he said. 

Indeed, no airport in existence operates without the use of fossil fuels, but nordic countries like Sweden and Denmark are home to airports who have lauded the potential of hydrogen-fueled planes. Experts worry, however, the technology is still far from that goal.

Later in the debate, following a question from DU student Clare Yockey, Johnston returned to the airport. He maintained that one of the ways the mayor could make an environmental impact would be to require the rental fleets of Denver’s airport to electrify, in addition to electrifying the buildings and vehicles of the city. Brough, who answered first, also committed to the electrification of Denver’s vehicles. 

Yes or No

Near the end of the debate, moderator del Porto handed each candidate a green and red card, which they would then use as an answer to a moderator’s question. “Green” indicated yes, and “red” indicated no. Below is a table of the results:

Question	Brough	Johnston	Quip or qualifier…	Timekeeper
Brough, glee in her eyes, to the timekeeper, holding a newly acquired red card in that direction: “It feels good now. How’s it feel to you?”	N/a	N/a		Silence
Would you hire your opponent to work in your administration?	YES	YES	Johnston: four nervous laughs Masket: “Let the record show…”	N/a
Would you personally stay beyond midnight in downtown Denver?	YES	YES	Brough: “Yeah, like, what am I doing?” del Porto: “Pick an activity!”	N/a
Do you support banning all flavored tobacco products in the city?	YES	YES	Visible and vocal confusion from both candidates Johnston: “That was almost a double negative.” Just one negative away…	N/a
Do you support arresting homeless people in encampments if they refuse to live and if they refuse to get help?	YES	NO	Brough: “Only if their life is in danger.”	N/a
Would you organize a bus ride of immigrants to New York, or to Chicago, or to Florida, maybe?	YES	YES	Brough: “Do they want to go there?” del Porto: “Hold up your card.” Johnston: “I would only send people to places they want to go.” Brough: “Yeah” del Porto: “Let’s assume they want to go there. Would you pay for it, is the question? Have the city pay for it?” Brough and Johnston: “The city is doing that today … right now … everyday.”	N/a

In a debate symbolic of the runoff election itself where there is a lack of fundamental dissent, the Denver Mayor’s race is a competitive contest that will not yield an indisputable victor until June 6. Find your local voting station here.