Bill Vidal
Encyclopedia
Guillermo "Bill" Vidal is an author, career civil servant, and a former mayor
of Denver, Colorado
.
Vidal served as deputy mayor under John Hickenlooper
until Hickenlooper resigned his position as mayor in order to serve as the governor
of Colorado. Vidal was then sworn in as mayor on January 12, 2011 and served until July 18, 2011 when his successor Michael Hancock
was sworn in.
After he moved from deputy to mayor, Vidal did not run for the office, choosing instead to serve only until a new mayor could be elected.
Bill Vidal is a native of Camagüey
, Cuba
, where he was born to Roberto and Marta Vidal. He and his brothers arrived in the United States
in 1961 via Operation Peter Pan
. The brothers were sent to live at the Sacred Heart Orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado
, and reunited with their family four years later.
Vidal earned a bachelor's degree
in civil engineering
from the University of Colorado
. He is a registered professional engineer
with over 30 years of experience in the public sector
of state and city government.
Colorado Department of Transportation
Guillermo Vidal worked 23 years with CDOT. He started as a Highway Design Engineer
, and worked his way up to the Executive Director position under Governor Roy Romer. His career at CDOT included being the Region II District Engineer, Region VI Transportation Director, and 5 years as Executive Director
. As Executive Director he implemented a re-engineering effort of all project design and construction processes, completed the first statewide multi-modal transportation, and establishing the first air quality policy
for the State.
Denver Regional Council of Governments
From 1999 to 2004, Bill served as Executive Director of the DRCOG. Vidal completed the restructuring of the organization to reduce bureaucracy and increase energy and participation. He brought together a consensus among DRCOG’s 50 members (9 counties; 41 municipalities) that unanimously adopted the 20-Year Transportation Plan and the Clean Water Plan. He directed the investment of a $40 million in regional projects, including the Central Platte Valley Light Rail Spur and Denver Union Station.
. He also introduced an extensive street and bridge construction program for City, and developed the City’s first Storm Sewer and Sanitary Sewer Master Plans. With his strategic planning
expertise at CDOT, he developed Denver's first Strategic Transportation Plan including a multi-modal transportation plan. He also completed the construction of Denver’s Colorado Convention Center
’s expansion project and the expansion of the Denver Art Museum
, these projects totaling over $500 million in costs.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
.
Vidal served as deputy mayor under John Hickenlooper
John Hickenlooper
John Wright Hickenlooper is an American politician and current Governor of Colorado. A Democrat, he was previously the Mayor of Denver, Colorado from 2003 to 2011.-Early life, education and career:...
until Hickenlooper resigned his position as mayor in order to serve as the governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Colorado. Vidal was then sworn in as mayor on January 12, 2011 and served until July 18, 2011 when his successor Michael Hancock
Michael Hancock (Colorado politician)
Michael B. Hancock is the 45th and current mayor of Denver, Colorado. He was sworn in on July 18, 2011 after defeating Chris Romer in a runoff election on June 7, 2011. He is Denver's second African-American mayor.-Biography:...
was sworn in.
After he moved from deputy to mayor, Vidal did not run for the office, choosing instead to serve only until a new mayor could be elected.
History
- Section source
Bill Vidal is a native of Camagüey
Camagüey
Camagüey is a city and municipality in central Cuba and is the nation's third largest city. It is the capital of the Camagüey Province.After almost continuous attacks from pirates the original city was moved inland in 1528.The new city was built with a confusing lay-out of winding alleys that made...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, where he was born to Roberto and Marta Vidal. He and his brothers arrived in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1961 via Operation Peter Pan
Operation Peter Pan
Operation Peter Pan , was an operation coordinated by the United States government , the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami, and certain Cubans. Between 1960 and 1962, over 14,000 children were sent from Cuba to Miami by their parents...
. The brothers were sent to live at the Sacred Heart Orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
, and reunited with their family four years later.
Vidal earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
from the University of Colorado
University of Colorado
The University of Colorado system is a system of public universities in Colorado consisting of three universities in four campuses: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and University of Colorado Denver in downtown Denver and at the Anschutz Medical Campus in...
. He is a registered professional engineer
Professional Engineer
Regulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protect the safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the...
with over 30 years of experience in the public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
of state and city government.
Colorado Department of TransportationColorado Department of TransportationThe Colorado Department of Transportation is the agency of state government responsible for transportation in the State of Colorado of the United States. CDOT is responsible for maintaining 9,144 mile highway system, including 3,429 bridges with over 28 billion vehicle miles of travel per year...
(CDOT)
Guillermo Vidal worked 23 years with CDOT. He started as a Highway Design EngineerHighway engineering
Highway engineering is an engineering discipline branching from civil engineering which involves the design, construction and maintenance of Highway Systems. Highway Engineering become prominent towards the latter half of the 20th Century after World War 2. Standards of highway engineering are...
, and worked his way up to the Executive Director position under Governor Roy Romer. His career at CDOT included being the Region II District Engineer, Region VI Transportation Director, and 5 years as Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
. As Executive Director he implemented a re-engineering effort of all project design and construction processes, completed the first statewide multi-modal transportation, and establishing the first air quality policy
Air quality law
Air quality law is the area of environmental law governing the emission of air pollutants from human sources into the atmosphere. It may also refer to the regulation of indoor air quality for the protection of human health.-Canada:...
for the State.
Denver Regional Council of GovernmentsDenver Regional Council of Governmentsthumb|240px|An enlargeable map of the Denver Regional Council of GovernmentsThe Denver Regional Council of Governments is a nonprofit, membership organization of local governments in the Denver region of the State of Colorado...
(DRCOG)
From 1999 to 2004, Bill served as Executive Director of the DRCOG. Vidal completed the restructuring of the organization to reduce bureaucracy and increase energy and participation. He brought together a consensus among DRCOG’s 50 members (9 counties; 41 municipalities) that unanimously adopted the 20-Year Transportation Plan and the Clean Water Plan. He directed the investment of a $40 million in regional projects, including the Central Platte Valley Light Rail Spur and Denver Union Station.City and County of Denver
Bill Vidal moved onto the Public Works Manager for City and County of Denver, which also including being the Deputy Mayor. During his tenure with Denver, Vidal negotiated a critical $50 billion, 20 year franchise agreement with Xcel EnergyXcel Energy
Xcel Energy, Inc. is a public utility company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, serving customers in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Primary services are electricity and natural gas...
. He also introduced an extensive street and bridge construction program for City, and developed the City’s first Storm Sewer and Sanitary Sewer Master Plans. With his strategic planning
Strategic planning
Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy. In order to determine the direction of the organization, it is necessary to understand its current position and the possible avenues...
expertise at CDOT, he developed Denver's first Strategic Transportation Plan including a multi-modal transportation plan. He also completed the construction of Denver’s Colorado Convention Center
Colorado Convention Center
The Colorado Convention Center is a multi-purpose convention center located in Downtown Denver. The center opened in June 1990; the first event being the NBA Draft for the Denver Nuggets. The convention center was expanded in 2004 to include several meeting rooms, two ballrooms and an indoor...
’s expansion project and the expansion of the Denver Art Museum
Denver Art Museum
The Denver Art Museum is an art museum in Denver, Colorado located in Denver's Civic Center.It is known for its collection of American Indian art,and has a comprehensive collection numbering more than 68,000 works from across the world....
, these projects totaling over $500 million in costs.
External links
- Official webpage About Denver Mayor Guillermo (Bill) V. Vidal