Colorado elects Hickenlooper as its 42nd Governor

Colorado voters on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 elected John Hickenlooper, a brewpub pioneer turned Mayor of Denver, as the 42nd Governor of Colorado.

"I am humbled and honored by the decision Colorado's voters have made, and I accept the challenge you have entrusted to me to lead our state as Governor," Hickenlooper said. "This is not the end of our journey. This is the beginning. And it starts with bringing people together."

Gov.-elect Hickenlooper set himself apart in the 2010 election by maintaining his promise to run a completely positive campaign. His pledge to renounce attack ads brought national attention to Colorado and distinguished Hickenlooper as the kind of leader the state needs to solve problems and turn its economy around.

"The problems we face are too big for partisan politics," Hickenlooper said. "We're facing a budget shortfall that threatens to hurt our schools and reduce opportunities for our kids to go to college. So tonight, the political campaign is over, and the business of putting Colorado back to work begins."

Hickenlooper will be joined in office by Lt. Gov.-elect Joe Garcia, who is currently the president of Colorado State University-Pueblo. Garcia is a respected educator who has served as the president of Pikes Peak Community College and Co-Chair of the state's P-20 Education Reform Council.

"I am so fortunate to have a talented problem-solver like Joe Garcia as my lieutenant governor," Hickenlooper said. "Joe is just the kind of leader we need to build a 21st-century education system for the state of Colorado."

Hickenlooper and Garcia will be inaugurated on Jan. 11.

"Gov. Bill Ritter leaves a legacy for which we should all be grateful," Hickenlooper said. "His work to improve outcomes for kids, through access to health care and better education will have a lasting effect on our state. His ability to define Colorado as the center of the New Energy Economy will help create thousands of jobs, not just now but also for generations to come."

Hickenlooper challenged Coloradans to work together regardless of political party to make Colorado.

"Starting tonight, we set aside our differences and work together to rebuild hope in our state and get our economy back on track," Hickenlooper said. "That's what our friends and neighbors want. That's what Colorado needs."