Webb, Wellington E. (Wellington Edward), 1941-
Biographical notes:
Wellington E. Webb (born February 17, 1941) is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he notably served as the 42nd Mayor of Denver, Colorado, the first African American to hold the position, from 1991 to 2003.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, his family relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1954, where the imposing six-foot, five-inch youth became active in sports and graduated from Manual High School. Webb was an all-conference basketball player at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, in 1960. He obtained his B.A. in sociology from Colorado State College in 1964 and his M.A. in sociology from the same school, now known as the University of Northern Colorado, in 1971. Webb was turned down twice for teaching positions in the Denver public schools. He was working as a forklift operator when, on the advice of his grandmother, he went to city hall and was offered a job. In 1972, Webb was elected to the first of three terms in the Colorado House of Representatives, representing northeast Denver.
In 1977, Webb was selected by President Jimmy Carter to serve as regional director of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1981, Colorado Governor Richard Lamm appointed Webb to his cabinet as executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). After losing a 1983 bid for Mayor of Denver, Webb was elected Denver city auditor in 1987 and served until 1991. Webb served as mayor of Denver for 12 years, from 1991 to 2003. One highlight of his years in office was the South Platte River Corridor Project, involving commercial and residential redevelopment, as well as reclamation of park land, along the South Platte River in central Denver. He was also mayor at the time of the completion of Denver 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.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.
Now in retirement, Webb lectures frequently on civic issues and was a guest lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School. Webb collaborates closely with his wife, former Colorado State Representative Wilma Webb. Although he briefly sought the office of chairman of the Democratic National Committee in late 2004, Webb dropped out of the race in late January 2005 and endorsed fellow candidate Howard Dean. In February 2007, Webb published his autobiography, The Man, the Mayor and the Making of Modern Denver, co-written by former Colorado journalist Cindy Brovsky. In 2008, Webb supported Barack Obama and Joe Biden as one of Colorado's presidential electors.
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Subjects:
- Education
- African American politicians
- Agriculture
- Airports
- Auditors
- Mayor
- Tea trade
Occupations:
- Authors
- City Government Official
- Federal Government Appointee
- Mayors
- State Government Appointee
- State Representative
Places:
- CO, US
- Greeley, CO, US
- Denver, CO, US
- Chicago, IL, US
