Three days after the end of a grueling mayoral election, Former Mayor Federico Peña was one of the first on Mike Johnston's transition team to show up at Cesar Chavez Park for the big announcement: Who's going to help get Johnston to work on leading the city?
At 76, Peña has guided presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama through transitions and served as the U.S. Secretary of Energy and Secretary of Transportation.
In the 1980s, Peña upset the Denver establishment, as a young candidate with a big vision to imagine a great city. He won over voters by showcasing concrete plans -- something Johnston himself mirrored in his campaign. Peña launched the creation of the Denver International Airport, the Convention Center, the Downtown Denver Library and the revitalization of the Lower Downtown Historic District.
But on Friday morning, he helped set up, taping campaign signs on the podium. He said he's there to serve the people of Denver in any way he can.
Other members of Johnston's team began to gather in the park.
Ami Desai, who comes from a long career in organizational management, most recently serving as the Chief Operating Officer of the foundation Johnston led, Gary Community Ventures. She will be chairing the transition committee.
His rival in the race, state Rep. Leslie Herod, will be chairing the inauguration committee, showcasing citywide artists.
"Denver is a vibe," she said, adding that she's ready to prove it.
Former editor of the Denver Post and Boston Globe, Greg Moore, will be keeping the transition team honest and transparent, according to Johnston.
Sistahbiz founder Makisha Boothe will be ensuring the administration focuses on equity when it comes to growing the city's business sector. She's known Johnston for 15 years and worked with him when he was at the Statehouse.
State Sen. Julie Gonzales, fresh off a busy legislative session, has volunteered her time to set Johnston up for success and to ensure his campaign is connected to the community she has long served.
Kourtny Garrett, the head of the Downtown Denver Partnership, was not present, but she's on the team. She's in Vancouver, Canada, touring the city with Denver business and political leaders, learning what's working -- and what isn't -- there.
The transition team members spoke with hope about the future under Johnston.
"One reason that I'm optimistic for our future are the values and the ways in which Mike has really championed inclusion and equity in our city," Gonzales said. "Yeah, we've got a lot of work to do: ending street homelessness in four years, taking real action to make housing more affordable, and treating all people in our city with dignity and respect.
"Those have always been the values that Denver has championed via organizing and via this incredible and diverse community," she added. "But now, we begin with this new phase with new energy and new determination."
Gonzales acknowledged the work ahead will be challenging and obstacles will continue to exist.
"Working with our new mayor, I know that we can forge a future that is not defined by those constraints of the past," she said. "We can be imaginative, we can be creative, and together, we can build a future that is guided by our boundless potential."
Herod spoke about the vibrancy of Denver under Johnston's administration.
"He knows that when we foster innovation and creativity we can create new opportunities in every single corner of the city," she said. "We can attract entrepreneurs who will build the innovations of tomorrow. We can support the artists who challenge convention and strengthen our community."
Peña celebrated Johnston's intellect, ambitions and determination to get things done -- even when it seemed impossible.
"You saw that during the campaign, with his energy, with his ideas, his enthusiasm, and his willingness to propose bold ideas that some people may have thought were too imaginative. But it's important to have hope," Peña continued. "It's important to have great ideas and to aim high. This city has always aimed high."
Peña encouraged Denverites to get behind the new mayor to help him accomplish those goals.
"You believe in imagining a great city," he said. "And you believe in Mike's vision of making Denver the best city in America."
Johnston pledged to set up 28 committees to tackle some of the biggest issues.
"Those will include all of the existing departments and agencies that we want to be able to get a deep look at what's working and what's not," he said. "It also includes the addition of some new committees that we think are major issues facing the city."
Committees will look at the city's approach to homelessness, the arrival of migrants and the administration's partnership with Denver Public Schools and education, along with others focused on the needs of labor relations with city workers, mental health, community wellbeing, and neighborhood safety.
Five guiding values will shape the transition: transparency, innovation, collaboration, equity and transformation. They spell out "T.I.C.K.E.T."
"I know I'm a dork like that," Johnston said. "Mnemonic devices are helpful as an educator."
This current transition crew gives just a hint of the massive team Johnston is assembling. And he's inviting all Denverites to help.
Johnston has launched a website, Vibrant Denver, where anybody in the city can apply to help with the transition. The transition committee will review applications early next week and begin.
"We will open it to everyone in the community who wants to join any one of these transition committees," he said. "You can come right on to the site. You can look at the committees. You can submit a form if you want to be included. We would love that people apply."
Many have already reached out. Yesterday, he received roughly 1,200 text messages, he said.
In the past three days, he's already spoken to more than a hundred people interested in helping with the transition, and he's eager to bring many more on board.
"We would love everyone from all walks of life in Denver who wants to be part of the transition to come join us," Johnston said.
The team met after the press conference to start the transition.
Peña said: "Let's get to work."
