Wellington Webb
Wellington Webb | |
---|---|
President 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 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | February 17, 1941
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 in the
Early life and career
The Webb family relocated from
Career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Webb_Municipal_Building.jpg/220px-Webb_Municipal_Building.jpg)
In 1972, Webb was elected to the
Mayor of Denver
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 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.[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.
Later career
He 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.
In 2001, Webb served on the selection committee for the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence.[1]
Webb was mentioned in the documentary Bowling for Columbine during a speech by National Rifle Association president Charlton Heston. In April 1999, shortly after the high school shootings at Columbine High School near Denver, Heston claimed that Webb had asked him not to come to Denver.
Although he briefly
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.
In
Personal life
He has been married to Wilma Webb since 1969. They have four children.
Notes
- ^ "Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence". Selection Committees. Bruner Foundation. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ AP: It's official: Barack Obama elected 44th president
External links
- Biography by DenverGov.org - Focuses mostly on Webb's service as city auditor
- The Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building - Information and pictures
- South Platte project
- Appearances on C-SPAN