2007 Entertainment

Keynote:
Paul D. Lopez
Denver District 3, City Council

Representing West Denver’s District 3, Denver City Councilman Paul D. López has been described as a rising star in the Colorado political scene.  Born and raised in West Denver, López has spent a large part of his life dedicated to improving the lives of working families in Denver and across Colorado as a union organizer, community activist, and now as a Denver City Council Representative.

While earning his degree in Political Science at the University of Colorado, López organized to keep the educational door open for other low-income and minority students. His success prompted students to elect him as President of the Student Government.

López worked as a community organizer in Denver’s poorest neighborhoods with low income residents to help start a community leadership development program, protecting affordable housing in Denver and challenging the public health system to give the community, patients and health care employees a stronger voice in Denver. As a union organizer fighting for hardworking janitors, López took on employers who violated workplace rights by bringing hundreds of Denver-area janitors and their families to the bargaining table.  In early 2006, López coordinated with Colorado immigrant-rights leaders to organize the largest political march in Colorado history and demand fair and just comprehensive immigration reform.

In January 2007, López was approached by community leaders and working families to run for the Denver City Council and represent West Denver.  With the blessing of his family and neighbors, López decided to take on this challenge despite the great odds against him.  His youth, energetic personality, bold vision and powerful ability to organize people and create change challenged the political establishment.  In a field of seven candidates, López’s classic organizing style combined with his relentless work ethic and ability to unite people, translated to a 47% general election majority and 63% of the votes in the runoff election. At 28-years old, López became the youngest Denver City Council Member in recorded history to take the oath of office.

Lopez’s humble upbringing and bullhorn-wielding political conviction has transformed him into a passionate and dynamic leader who defines the phrase “community organizer” and is steadfastly redefining the role of “Councilman.” Councilman Paul D. López and his wife Marisol Bolaños López are the proud parents of a baby girl, Nayeli, who is already taking on her daddy’s opinionated nature.