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Age: 67
Experience: CEO of Da Black Starz International Actionz Movement-4-Self-Defenze, florist, and former accountant
Action Plan: Crack down on corruption in city offices and the police force, take developers to task, and make Denver a city where people living in poverty can thrive
Why do you want to be mayor?
Because I can win.
What’s the first thing you would do in office?
We’re gonna take a look at this corruption thing that’s going on here, especially with this building thing. There’s all kinds of violations of federal and state law.
What is Denver doing well?
[City government officials] are the best cons in town. Better than Barnum and Bailey, baby. If you want to make a lie believable, make it huge.
What’s your plan for working with other cities in the metro area?
We’ve got this myth about a regional group of leaders working together. But you know what’s really going on? The leaders [in surrounding areas] ain’t got shit. They don’t have the services. Outside the City and County of Denver, you know what you got? You got legalized open carry and concealed weapons. Then people come in here with their guns and act a fool…And you got bullshit going on.
Who has been a role model or mentor for you?
On a local level, it was Hiawatha Davis Jr., the former city councilman. He mentored me since I was 17 years old. I worked with him at the East Side Action Movement before he became city councilman.
One more thought:
On what makes him different from other candidates: What makes me different than all the rest is never have you had anyone who was poor be mayor or city councilman. You ain’t never had anyone poor.
