Retired University of Colorado President Bruce Benson on Tuesday announced he has endorsed former U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman for the Aurora mayor’s race.

In a statement from Coffman’s campaign, Benson said, “I have known Mike Coffman for more than 30 years and have always found him to be an effective leader with great integrity who cares deeply about the people and communities he has served. He also has the ability to bring people together to get things done, which is critical to being an effective mayor.”

Benson cited the strong working relationship Coffman had with CU, but particularly the CU Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, which the statement called “one of the top academic medical centers in the country.”

“Mike fully understands the role CU Anschutz plays, not only in the health of the people of the region, but also in the economy of Aurora and the state,” Benson said.

“He has been a great partner in making the campus one of the premier health-care destinations in the country, and he fully understands its importance to Aurora and to Colorado.”

Coffman said that “to have Bruce Benson’s endorsement based on his confidence in my leadership is, without question, a great honor.”

Coffman is in a six-way race for the mayor’s seat. The election is on Nov. 5.