Denver votes are deciding one of the most pivotal and hotly-contested mayoral elections this century, choosing between two-term incumbent Michael Hancock and political newcomer Jamie Giellis in the city runoff that ends Tuesday.

Through six often intense debates held since the two candidates qualified in May for the runoff, they have outlined starkly different visions of the city.

Hancock boasts that Denver is one of the most desirable places to live in the nation — with low unemployment, a vibrant economy and a quality of life that has attracted more than 110,00 new residents and 8,100 new companies over the last decade.

Giellis, an urban-planning expert and former president of the River North Arts District, has tapped into anxiety and concern over that phenomenal growth, arguing that the Hancock administration’s failure to manage it has resulted in traffic congestion, increased homelessness, ugly new buildings and the displacement of traditional neighborhoods.

The race has been a gloves-off slog to the finish line for both candidates.

James Anderson

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, right, chats with a voter during a rally for Hancock’s re-election bid in Denver on June 1. Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb is chatting with a voter in back. (AP Photo/James Anderson)

James Anderson

Just days after the May election, Giellis couldn’t identify what the initials NAACP stand for during an online interview at an African-American cultural center.

She also scrubbed her social media accounts when critics raised questions about a fundraiser at a Mexican restaurant featuring a “nacho/taco bar” and “lowriders,” and a 2009 tweet that asked “”Why do so many cities feel it necessary to have a ‘Chinatown’?”

Hancock argued Giellis was displaying a pattern of cultural insensitivity and charged she was unprepared to lead a city as diverse as Denver.

But the Giellis campaign swung back hard, accusing Hancock of fostering a “climate of sexual harassment” at city hall during his eight years in office.

Giellis pointed to a series of sexually suggestive text messages the mayor has admitted sending to a female Denver police detective in 2012, when she was part of his security detail.

She also slammed Hancock for some $1.5 million in settlements and legal costs associated with lawsuits and complaints filed against other city employees alleging sexual harassment, misconduct and discrimination.

In this June 1, 2019, photo, Jamie Giellis, left, who is in a runoff election Tuesday for Denver mayor with incumbent Michael Hancock, talks to a voter in Denver. Giellis is trying to unseat Hancock, who is seeking his third term as the Mile High City’s chief executive. (AP Photo/James Anderson)

James Anderson

Hancock has repeatedly taken responsibility for the text messages, which became public a year ago, noting that he has apologized to the detective, to his family and to the community.

But in the face of Giellis’ fresh attacks, he also pointed out that none of the sums trumpeted by Giellis stemmed from any of his actions and that he has not been sued for sexual harassment.

That last point, however, led to a stumble by Hancock in the closing minutes of the final debate when he was asked to explain the why the text messages didn’t amount to sexual harassment.

He replied that they were part of a “back-and-forth” exchange with the detective. That sparked a sensational press conference at Giellis headquarters the next day when the detective, Leslie Branch-Wise, called Hancock a liar and endorsed Giellis.

Hancock acknowledged that his reply was “a boneheaded mistake” but stopped short of acknowledging he sexually harassed Branch-Wise, saying only that her perceptions of what happened were all that mattered.

In this Saturday, June 1, 2019 photo, a passing bicyclist pauses to watch supporters of Denver Mayor Michael Hancock as they pause for a picture during a rally for the incumbent in Denver. Hancock, who is seeking his third, four-year term as mayor, is facing Jamie Giellis in a runoff Tuesday. (AP Photo/James Anderson)

James Anderson

In between all the personal jabs, the candidates aired some major policy differences during the campaign.

One of the sharpest differences emerged over the city’s urban camping ban. Passed in 2012 in response to the Occupy Denver movement’s encampment in Civic Center, the ban drew opposition from four of the candidates in the general election campaign, including Giellis, who initially said she would repeal the ban if elected.

But in the May 7 general election, Denver voters overwhelmingly rejected Amendment 300, which sought to overturn the camping back and to assert the right of homeless people to live on public places.

Giellis opposed Amendment 300, noting that it went far beyond repealing the camping ban.

But immediately after the mayoral field narrowed to Hancock and Giellis for the runoff, the mayor began hammering her on her call for repealing the camping ban.

Giellis responded by modifying her position, first saying that as mayor she would lack the power to repeal the ban outright, something only the city council could do so.

She later released a video saying she would not repeal the ban and instead would work with the council to replace it with a “smart” policy — drawing criticism from the Hancock campaign for flip-flopping on the issue even as Giellis maintained she was simply fleshing out a “nuanced” position.

Hancock has consistently supported the ban, saying it gives police a tool to keep homeless people from camping out on the streets and move them into shelters and services.

In the weeks leading up to the general election, Hancock unveiled several policy initiatives aimed at addressing growth and development. He proposed two city charter changes that would create a municipal Department of Transportation and Infrastructure and another that would create a Department of Housing and Homelessness.

Giellis criticized both measures as late responses to criticism that she and the other mayoral challengers have been raising for months over traffic congestion and homelessness.

Hancock countered that both proposals have been in the works for almost two years.

The runoff became necessary after Hancock failed to get more that 50% of the vote in the general election. He finished with 39% of the vote, and Giellis came in second with about 25%.

Giellis has frequently pointed out that more than 60% of the voters wanted someone other than Hancock, while he has shot back that 75% of the voters picked someone other than Giellis.

She convinced the two top vote-getters among the former mayor rivals –— former state lawmaker Penfield Tate and Regis University criminal justice professor Lisa Calderón — to endorse her as part of a “unity” ticket.

Hancock responded by reminding voters he’d been endorsed by former Denver Mayors Wellington Webb and John Hickenlooper.

Now it’s up to the voters. Mail ballots must be turned in by 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Stay with ColoradoPolitics.com for all the results and for analysis of the outcome.

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James Anderson

Then-mayoral candidate Jamie Giellis chats with a voter in Denver on June 1. (AP Photo/James Anderson)

James Anderson