John Hickenlooper, the current mayor of Denver, Colorado is one of 50 finalists for the 2006 World Mayor Award, although he’s among only ten finalists from North America and a mere seven from the United States. Anyone apparently can vote, so go cast your vote for John now. John founded the Wynkoop brewpub in Denver’s LoDo area (Lower Downtown) when there was nothing there but a jazz club (El Chapultepec) and abandoned warehouses. Today it’s one of the busiest areas there boasting great restaurants, clubs, and Coors Field, the Colorado Rockies baseball stadium. John’s a great guy and by all accounts has been doing a phenomenal job as mayor. It would be fun and great press for the craft brewing industry as a whole if John won. So go vote now!

Before his mayoral days, at GABF with Joanne and Jessica (both formerly of the Brewers Association). Joanne Carilli is now with White Labs and Jessica left the BA last year to pursue teaching.