Steve Hogan

Steve Hogan (born c. 1948) is an American politician who has served as the Mayor of Aurora, Colorado since November 2011. Hogan is a member of the Republican Party.

Hogan earned his undergraduate degree at University of Denver, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

Specializing in transport management, Hogan was the executive director of the E-470 Public Highway Authority from 1991 to 1998, leaving that year to run the Northwest Parkway Authority until 2008.

Elected in 1974, Hogan was a one-term legislator in the Colorado House of Representatives representing the 40th district, which covered most of the Arapahoe County portion of Aurora. At this stage a member of the Democratic Party, Hogan made a run in 1979 for the Aurora City Council, winning in what he described as 'the most competitive council election in decades'. His victory marked the first of six non-consecutive terms as a councilman (1979-1983, 1985-1997, 2001–09).

Outside of the city council, Hogan has twice been a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives; the first in 1982, when he was the Democratic nominee in the 6th district against Republican Jack Swigert of Apollo 13 fame, emphasizing his political experience compared to political novice Swigert. Swigert emerged victorious, but died from cancer before he could assume office, and Hogan once more represented the Democrats in the 1983 special election that followed. He ran on a campaign criticizing the economic and defense policies of President Ronald Reagan, whilst advocating higher taxes to reduce the federal deficit, and lost to Republican state senator Dan Schaefer.

At some stage becoming a Republican, Hogan made a second run for the Aurora mayoralty (the first being a failed attempt in 1987) in 2011. He took advantage of his image as an adept budget manager, and was described in The Denver Post as a man with a 'reputation as problem-solver and capable manager' in its endorsement. In the 6-person race, Hogan was seen as the establishment candidate, enjoying bipartisan support, including from the local branch of the AFL-CIO, and won the November election with 37% of the vote.

His mayoralty received national attention when 12 people were killed during the 2012 Aurora shooting.

Hogan has been the recipient of several awards, including: the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from the City of Aurora; Outstanding Legislator from the Colorado Chapter of Disabled American Veterans; the Community Leadership Award from the Aurora Chamber of Commerce; and the Circle of Life Award from the Northern Aurora Business Association.

Hogan is on the Aurora Chamber of Commerce and the Aurora Economic Development Council. He lives in the High Point neighbourhood with his wife, Becky.