By Jeff Kass
Rocky Mountain News
DENVER — Nick Nuanes had been working 34 years for this moment.
Around 5 p.m. Wednesday, Mayor John Hickenlooper called and asked if the 34-year Denver Fire Department veteran wanted the chief’s job.
Nuanes said he accepted.
“I’ve had the ability to drive the bus from the back seat,” said Nuanes, who has been a division chief for 12 years, the past four at Denver International Airport. “I’m looking forward to putting my hands on the steering wheel.”
Nuanes listed three priorities: improving efficiency within the department, maintaining what he termed “great” labor-management relations and improving diversity.
Nuanes, 56, will become the city’s third Hispanic fire chief. He succeeds another Hispanic, Larry Trujillo, who was granted an occupational disability retirement due to back ailments.
Nuanes said the department is 900 strong, one of the largest in the country. He said he felt “humbled and pleased” to serve the city and the firefighters.
Nuanes was mentioned early on as a contender, and Denver Fire Department spokesman Phil Champagne said there were nine applicants for the job and four finalists.
To improve diversity, Nuanes said there may need to be some changes to the city’s civil service rules to allow for “a larger pool of qualified applicants.” He talked of increasing the number of minorities in the department, especially blacks.
Nuanes grew up in northeast Denver’s Swansea neighborhood and graduated from East High School.
He once ran for the City Council, although firefighting is a family tradition.
He has four relatives on the force, including his son, Lt. Ryan Nuanes.
Nuanes could not say when there might be a formal ceremony making him chief.
When asked if he had any hobbies, he said golf.
And when asked if he would now have more or less time for that he said, “Probably a lot less time.”
Copyright 2007 Denver Publishing Company