Lisa Calderón joins Councilwoman-elect Candi CdeBaca’s team as chief of staff

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Mayoral candidate Lisa Calderón addresses supporters at her election night watch party, May 7, 2019. (Esteban L. Hernandez/Denverite)

Professor, co-chair of the Colorado Latino Forum and former mayoral candidate Lisa Calderón will serve as chief of staff for Councilwoman-elect Candi CdeBaca, Calderón confirmed on Wednesday.

Calderón came in third in Denver's May municipal election and held her watch party in conjunction with CdeBaca, who next week will be sworn is as the representative for District 9. Calderón is a resident of District 9 and said in a statement that she was excited to work with CdeBaca "to push for a more transparent and accountable city government," that works for the needs of "struggling working families who are at risk of displacement."

"District 9 is a concentration of both wealth and poverty," Calderón said in a statement on Wednesday. "We must do more to help residents who are struggling to survive in this city, rather than continuing to prioritize only the wealthiest one percent. I share Candi's vision to empower the masses to create a more equitable and just society."

Following the loss in May, Calderón backed Jamie Giellis over incumbent Michael Hancock in the June runoff. Hancock won reelection, while CdeBaca posted one of the biggest upsets, defeating incumbent Councilman Albus Brooks.

Calderón shares some of CdeBaca's activist roots and ran her mayoral candidacy on a progressive platform that included affordable housing, "resident-led development" and decentralizing the mayor's office.

CdeBaca will be sworn in along with several new faces on the council during a ceremony on Monday.

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