Michael B. Hancock
Editor’s Note: Rubén Valdez, an honored Denver community leader and former state legislator and first Latino Speaker of the House passed away on October 1.
Our Denver community has lost a giant, our Latino community has lost a trailblazer, and I have lost a dear friend. Rubén Valdez wasn’t just an exceptional public servant and advocate, he was a leader and mentor to so many and a tireless champion for what he believed was right and just.
As a Denver legislator, he represented and advanced the best interests of the Westside community, giving them a needed voice and advocate in the General Assembly. It was that dedication and tenacity that led him to make history as our state’s first Latino Speaker of the House, where his reputation for reaching across the aisle to benefit all Coloradans was well respected.
Our Denver community has lost a giant, our Latino community has lost a trailblazer, and I have lost a dear friend. Rubén Valdez wasn’t just an exceptional public servant and advocate, he was a leader and mentor to so many and a tireless champion for what he believed was right and just.
But it more than just in government, Ruben was a steadfast voice for those who were unable to speak for themselves. This was especially true for our youth, where he reflected on his own upbringing and perseverance to ensure the same opportunities he was given and earned were afforded to every child in Denver. That hope for a brighter future is the greatest legacy he has left us, and we will honor it forever.
The entire Valdez family will be in Mary Louise and I’s thoughts and prayers. His loss is a loss for our entire city, and he will be deeply missed by so many.
Michael B. Hancock serves as the Mayor of Denver and was a friend of Rubén Valdez.
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