Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and his wife, Wilma Webb, denounced the City Council-backed ballot measures 2E and 2G, which are designed to strengthen the power of Denver’s legislative branch.

The Webbs said the measures “threaten our standing as a world-class city,” in a statement released Wednesday urging voters to vote no on the measures.

Measure 2E would give the City Council authority to approve the mayor’s appointees for sheriff, police chief, fire chief and 11 cabinet members. 2E is led by Councilwomen Amanda Sawyer of District 5 and Candi CdeBaca of District 9.

Measure 2G would give the Council power to change the city’s budget midyear. This would, for example, allow the council to help decide how federal COVID-19 relief is spent. 2G is led by Councilwoman at-large Robin Kniech.

“We understand that some Council members are intent on disruption and theatrics, rather than the hard work and dedication it takes to run this city,” the Webbs said.

“We hope that Denver ballot measures 2E and 2G are defeated and the Mayor and the Council can get back to working together on behalf of the people of this great city, especially as we work our way out of the setbacks of this pandemic.”

Opponents to the measures have argued they would destabilize the system and are an attempted power grab by the council.

The Webbs said 2E is not needed as council members can already raise concerns about appointees with the mayor directly, saying measures shouldn’t replace the need for the mayor and council to work together.

“It does not surprise me that those who benefited from and wielded the concentrated power in our strong mayoral control city would oppose this measure,” CdeBaca said in response to the Webbs.

CdeBaca said 2E would add transparency and accountability by allowing the council to interview, meet and confirm appointees, while still allowing the mayor to vet, interview and select candidates.

“The people responsible for rule-making, administration, enforcement and investigation are all appointed by and answer to the same person, the mayor,” CdeBaca said. “We should never concentrate power in the hands of a single person, while merely hoping for a good outcome.”

The Webbs also raised issue with 2G, arguing it would disrupt the funding of basic services.

Kniech has insisted that, if approved, the authority granted by 2G would be used in “rare” instances and would bring about even “more accountability” because it would require up to nine council members to agree on the spending proposal instead of just the mayor.

“Good local governance requires mechanisms for oversight, accountability and transparency between our branches of government,” CdeBaca said. “It is good governance to institutionalize transparency while balancing power to improve our democratic processes.”