As Mayor Michael Hancock leaves office after 12 years as Mayor and eight years as a City Councilman, he issued a new booklet and video chronicling his two-decade career in public service. “Thank you, Denver. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for putting your trust in me and my Administration to lead our beloved city for these past 12 years through good times and tough times. As my time as your mayor comes to a close, I see a city that continues to meet challenges with our signature Denver spirit, boldly demonstrating that we are all Denver, and we never give up. Thank you once again for the privilege of serving you. May God bless each and every one of you and may God bless our great city.”
Outgoing Denver Mayor Michael Hancock
Mayor Hancock and his Administration led Denver’s evolution into a nationally acclaimed and globally connected city from 2011 to 2023, a 12-year span that included incredible economic and social challenges. The Hancock Administration’s work cemented Denver’s reputation as one of the most desirable places in the country to live, learn, work and play.
Mayor Hancock took office in 2011 when the city was struggling with 9 percent unemployment and ongoing fallout from the Great Recession. The Administration led Denver’s recovery, repairing a $100 million budget deficit, restoring core city services, and establishing Denver as one of the fastest growing and most vibrant cities in the nation.
A top priority for Mayor Hancock from the very beginning was to connect Denver and the entire Rocky Mountain region to the globe and increase its competitiveness. Denver International Airport is now the third-busiest airport in the world, with 17 new international flights since 2011. Denver’s emergence on the world stage attracted major employers, propelled tourism, and created the foundation for a sustainable modern economy
Mayor Hancock set an aggressive agenda to grow jobs and deliver city-changing projects. These projects included keeping the National Western Stock Show in Denver and creating a new National Western Center, completing the restoration of Denver Union Station, expanding the Colorado Convention Center, revitalizing and expanding Denver International Airport, rebuilding the 16th Street Mall, protecting and adding more parkland and open space, and turning the South Platte River into an ecologically sustainable amenity for generations to come.
The Hancock Administration made huge strides in creating affordable housing, building a foundation of policies, processes, and programs to deliver affordable housing options for residents in need, from dedicating new revenue sources, to establishing a new agency, to implementing new requirements for housing justice.
Over three terms, the Hancock Administration led efforts to enhance safety, reduce congestion, fight climate change, and make the largest investment in transportation infrastructure in Denver’s history. The Regional Transportation District’s FasTracks program had been the primary means for delivering regional multi-modalism, but the Hancock Administration established the foundation for intra-city transportation options to connect with RTD’s regional network of light and commuter rail, with the Denver Union Station Transit Center serving as a metro-area hub.
Thanks to Mayor Hancock and the people of Denver, our city now boasts a thriving arts, culture, and culinary scene. Revitalized neighborhoods create opportunities for Denverites and their families. There are more parks, recreation centers, libraries, and multimodal transportation options thanks to Mayor Hancock-led initiatives. The city is now considered a global leader in the fight against climate change, and children in Denver are less likely to be living in poverty than they were 12 years ago.