In 1946 literary giant Robert Penn Warren published a book titled All The King’s Men. The title comes from the Mother Goose nursery rhyme about Humpty Dumpty. Remember Humpty — “not all the king’s horses, not all the king’s men could put that big egg back together again.” The novel is about the governorship of Willie Stark in the depression era south of the 1930s. The story is told by Jack Burden — a newspaper reporter who comes to work for Willie as his right arm.

Willie of course is only known as “The Boss.” He goes from being a somewhat good, decent lawyer but a bad candidate to becoming the corrupt governor of what’s clearly the Depression Era State of Louisiana. Most critics believe that it’s really the life of Huey P. Long aka “The Kingfish.” Not to ruin the book for you but Willie Stark, like Huey P. Long, was shot to death in the state capitol by a doctor.

Now let’s take a look at our very own Kingfish — the Mayor of Denver Michael Hancock and his right-hand man and driver Wayne McDonald. The parallels between Willie Stark and Michael Hancock are indeed striking. In the book, Willie’s driver was known as Sugarboy. His real name of course, for all you literary geeks, was Roderick Ellis. I think that Michael Hancock’s Sugarboy is — that’s right you guessed it! — Wayne McDonald. You just gotta love it.

Ok let’s talk turkey. Right now the City of Denver is withholding audio recordings made by a Denver policewoman, about alleged sexual harassment by the mayor’s chauffeur. She’s an investigator who is now assigned to Denver’s District 2 and her name is Leslie Branch Wise. A note of interest: Wise had been allegedly used as a bait cop in stings like the one that resulted in the arrest of strip club magnate Troy Lowrie. And of course it didn’t bother the City of Denver to release that tape but why now, under similar circumstances, are the tapes being withheld? They had no problem trying to expose Troy Lowrie — in fact every media outlet in Denver had the tape — even though all the charges were later dropped.

Oh, and as another side note, Lowrie lost his job at Golden High School as a tennis coach but Sugarboy continues to be the girls’ basketball coach of record at Overland High School. Double standard? Just sayin’.

So was Wise a victim of “Sugarboy” McDonald or “Willie” Hancock or both of them?

Sugarboy was fired at the end of May after the above said female police officer accused him of serious misconduct. Channel 7 reported it as a complaint concerning sexual harassment. Mayor Hancock’s office won’t comment on the complaint citing personal issues. Channel 7 also reported the officer requested to be reassigned after filing the complaint and her request was immediately granted.

I’ve been told by several sources inside the Denver Police Department that reassignment that quick rarely if ever happens. Hancock has said that firing his friend was in the best interest of the city. Are you kidding me? Getting rid of Sugarboy was in the best interest of hizzoner.

Now Sugarboy has picked up a mouthpiece — attorney Anne Sulton. She’s acknowledged that there are audio recordings, but of whom? Of what? What are these two fun-loving public taxpayer employees saying to one of Denver’s finest? Oh by the way — informed sources tell us that the policewoman was never given any formal training on how to be a bodyguard. Is it possible that on good looks alone Willie and Sugar brought her onto the detail?

Anne Sulton was quoted by Channel 7 again by saying that McDonald was never given a written notice of termination. (Remember the German army — the gun is in the desk in the other room. You’ll know the right thing to do when the time comes). I think Sugarboy had the option — resign or be fired. Apparently he chose to be terminated.

Now here are a couple of showstoppers: Sugarboy was being paid $85,000 a year as the wheelman for the mayor. By the way, when Hickenlooper was mayor his driver was paid $40,000. Gee — I wonder what constitutes a $40,000 a year pay raise?

Let’s return to the thrilling days when the Denver Sugar/ Denver Players prostitution ring was in full swing and then-Councilman Hancock was allegedly an active participant. Remember Deborah Sherman at Channel 9. Remember the identification process when the now-mayor’s picture was picked from a lineup. He was identified as a “John” and because Sugarboy had been his buddy since back in the days of college and the urban league, I wonder what Sugarboy knows about the trips to go see the Denver Sugar working girls.

Note to all: If you’re stupid enough to witness sexual harassment and you do nothing or don’t stop it then you are as guilty as the harasser him or herself. So let’s figure this out.

Sugarboy allegedly harasses Ms. Wise and sources have told us he possibly made inappropriate contact. Did the mayor witnesses it and do nothing? If it was ongoing, as some sources suggest, and again the mayor did nothing, how guilty is he?

Just like Richard Nixon suppressing tapes — there is audio. Who holds the audio and why? Who is on the tapes and what are they saying.

Once again, Denver’s hard-hitting media have let another one slide by. So I leave you with a musical question: Denver’s mayor aka Willie Stark and his driver aka Sugarboy Wayne McDonald are both paid by the taxpayers. Sugar was driving a taxpayer-purchased vehicle and Ms. Wise is obviously paid by the taxpayers. Attention Police Protective Association (you guys should at least have her back) how is this all staying out of the public eye? Do you as a taxpayer have the right to know what happened?
Is the mainstream media aka the Axis of Evil protecting Willie and Sugarboy?

Peter