Michael Hancock appoints "dream team" to plan Denver's financial future

Cary Kennedy.

Michael Hancock may have gotten off to a sleepy start as the mayor-elect (more like a nightmare, dealing with that Denver Players mess). But with yesterday's introduction of his "Dream Team" to steer the city's financial future, Hancock's administration is definitely waking up.

Former state treasurer Cary Kennedy, who lost her job to Walker Stapleton in the last election but continues to win rave reviews for her performance while with the state, will be Denver's new Chief Financial Officer. And wisely, Hancock also kept on interim Chief Financial Officer Ed Scholz, previously the budget director, appointing him Deputy Chief Financial Officer.

"This is exactly the Dream Team I had envisioned with the talent necessary to address the budget deficit and the structural imbalances we face," Hancock said in announcing the appointments. "We are fortunate to have this extraordinary team working to turn these budget challenges into opportunities as we move Denver forward."

And there will be challenges. Although current mayor Bill Vidal has whittled down the estimated $100 million budget shortfall, the new mayor must have the city's budget done by October.

You won't catch this "dream team" napping.

More from our Calhoun: Wake-Up Call archive: "Michael Hancock appoints panel to wrangle National Western Stock Show plans."