Wellington Webb | |
|---|---|
 Webb in 2017 | |
| 42nd Mayor of Denver | |
| In office July 15, 1991 – July 21, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Federico Peña |
| Succeeded by | John Hickenlooper |
| 57thPresident of the United States Conference of Mayors | |
| In office 1999–2000 | |
| Preceded by | Deedee Corradini |
| Succeeded by | Brent Coles |
| Member of the Colorado House of Representatives | |
| In office 1973–1977 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1941-02-17)February 17, 1941 (age 84) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Colorado State College (BA,MA) |
Wellington E. Webb (born February 17, 1941) is an American politician. He served as a Democratic member in theColorado House of Representatives and was the first African American mayor ofDenver, Colorado, serving from 1991 to 2003.
The Webb family relocated fromChicago 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 Denver'sManual High School. Webb was an all-conference basketball player atNortheastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, in 1960. He obtained his B.A. in sociology fromColorado State College in 1964 and his M.A. in sociology from the same school, now known as the University of Northern Colorado, in 1971.
In 1972, Webb was elected to theColorado House of Representatives, representing northeast Denver. In 1977, Webb was selected by PresidentJimmy Carter to serve as regional director of theU.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1981, Colorado GovernorRichard Lamm appointed Webb to his cabinet as executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Webb was elected Denver city auditor in 1987 and served until 1991.
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 theSouth Platte River Corridor Project, involving commercial and residential redevelopment, as well as reclamation of park land, along theSouth Platte River in central Denver. He was also mayor at the time of the completion ofDenver 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.[citation needed] 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.
He lectures frequently on civic issues and was a guest lecturer at theHarvard Kennedy School. Webb collaborates closely with his wife, former Colorado State RepresentativeWilma Webb.
In 2001, Webb served on the selection committee for theRudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence.[1]
Webb was mentioned in the documentaryBowling for Columbine during a speech by National Rifle Association presidentCharlton Heston. In April 1999, shortly after the high school shootings atColumbine High School near Denver, Heston claimed that Webb had asked him not to come to Denver.
Although he brieflysought the office of chairman of theDemocratic National Committee in late 2004, Webb dropped out of the race in late January 2005 and endorsed fellow candidateHoward 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 (Fulcrum Publishing), co-written by former Colorado journalist Cindy Brovsky.
In2008, Webb supportedBarack Obama andJoe Biden as one of Colorado'spresidential electors.[2]
He has been married toWilma Webb since 1969. They have four children.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Mayor of Denver 1991–2003 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of theUnited States Conference of Mayors 1999–2000 | Succeeded by |
