The 5280 Fifty

We rank the Mile High City's most influential powerbrokers in our primer on who's running Denver. Plus: A look at whose stars are rising—and whose stock is plummeting.

Plummeting Stocks

Evangelical Leader

At one time, Dobson was one of the most powerful evangelical Christian leaders in the country; today, after stepping down as the chairman of Focus on the Family and leaving his radio show, the 73-year-old has talked himself into irrelevancy.

Football Coach, University of Colorado

At the beginning of last season, Hawkins proclaimed that he'd lead the Buffaloes to "10 wins, no excuses." After a rash of injuries—and several top players leaving the program—the team barely squeaked out three measly wins, bringing Hawkins' record on the gridiron to 16-33 over the past four years. One likely factor in why he still holds a clipboard is that CU didn't want to drop $3.1 million to buy out his contract.

Troubleshooter

The consumer advocate—whose referral can be bought for a mere $3,000—was shown as the bombastic blowhard he is last year, after local stand-up Adam Cayton-Holland filmed a withering, hilarious YouTube take-down.

Aspiring Public Official

The former speaker of the House wunderkind has looked lost since being term-limited out of his seat a year ago; Romanoff was passed over for both the secretary of state and Senate positions. Challenging Michael Bennet in a party-damaging primary reads as a petulant ego trip.

Former Editor, Publisher, and President, Rocky Mountain News

He used his Rocky to wield his agenda and satiate his ravenous ego. With the paper no more, Temple is revealed to all (but himself) as a mere mortal with an out-of-town consulting gig and semi-consequential media blog.