Colorado’s popular governor wants to restore people’s faith in government with his unique brand of politics. It’s turning out to be a whole lot tougher than he ever imagined. An exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at Hick’s first year in office.

We rank the 50 most powerful people in Denver.

When Pete Contos arrived in Denver in 1955, fresh off the plane from Greece, he didn’t have a dime in his pocket or know a word of English. He found a job washing dishes and worked his way up; today, the 76-year-old Contos owns eight dining establishments under the “Pete’s” brand, including the iconic greasy spoon Pete’s Kitchen. Along the way, he learned a thing or two about life, marriage, modeling, and barroom brawls.