DENVER — The crowded race for Colorado's most powerful elected position has begun to winnow, though only barely.
With just six weeks to go until Denver voters start to receive lengthy ballots in the mail for the April 4 municipal election, the field of mayoral candidates has slimmed a bit from more than two dozen hopefuls to the 17 who managed to gather enough petition signatures to qualify.
Among them are two state lawmakers, a veteran city councilor, a former state lawmaker and nonprofit chief, the former longtime head of the city's chamber of commerce, several prominent social justice advocates, and two CEOs who own or co-own homegrown local businesses.
The floodgates are open.
For the first time since 2011, there won't be an incumbent seeking reelection — three-term Mayor Michael Hancock is term-limited — no doubt inspiring the dozens of Denver denizens who saw the city's next mayor in the mirror.
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