The current Denver City Council. (file photo)
Mayor Michael Hancock may have raised more than $900,000 for his re-election since 2012, including $450,914 last year, but several Denver City Council candidates also have raised relatively large hauls ahead of the May 5 election. Fifty-one candidates have filed initial paperwork for council seats, and the ballot petitioning period began this week.
Topping the list for this election cycle, according to my review of campaign finance reports, is first-term Councilman Albus Brooks, running in downtown’s District 9. He has raised $152,744 in contributions since 2012, including $63,917 last year. (Candidates’ 2014 year-end reports were due earlier this week.)
Second was Kendra Black, who’s running for the open District 4 seat in southeast Denver; she raised $87,908, all of it last year after she jumped in that now-crowded race.
And third? Roger Sherman, who raised $85,541 in 2013 and 2014 while running in central Denver’s open District 10. But he dropped out, unexpectedly, in December. His 2014 year-end report shows he’s returned all of his contributions, draining his campaign account.
Rounding out the top five council fund-raisers in the cycle were Wayne New, who raised $81,844 (all last year) in his bid for District 10, and at-large Councilwoman Robin Kniech, who’s raised $81,832.
Below I’ve listed the top 10 fundraisers last year (not including any pre-2014 fundraising) and the top 10 ranked by cash on hand as of Dec. 31. (Though technical glitches were preventing some candidates from filing their reports this week, I think I’ve rounded up information from all top-raising candidates.)
A quick aside: In the open city auditor’s race, Councilman Chris Nevitt has raised $190,343, including $110,721 last year. He’s running against Timothy O’Brien, who’s raised $13,495. Clerk and Recorder Debra Johnson has raised $7,697 for her re-election. She only recently drew a challenger, Joan Poston.
Top council fundraisers in 2014 (with district noted):
1. Kendra Black (4), $87,908.00.
2. Wayne New (10), $81,844.00.
3. Albus Brooks (9), $63,917.21 (incumbent).
4. Liz Adams (6), $54,575.00.
5. Roger Sherman (10), $54,335.95 (withdrew).
6. Robin Kniech (at-large), $50,309.14 (incumbent).
7. Halisi Vinson (4), $32,221.35.
8. Jolon Clark (7), $27,255.00.
9. Mary Beth Susman (5), $25,467.31 (incumbent).
10. Paul Kashmann (6), $25,213.15.
Most cash on hand on Dec. 31:
1. Albus Brooks (9), $74,136.03 (incumbent).
2. Kendra Black (4), $70,203.66.
3. Robin Kniech (at-large), $69,247.89 (incumbent).
4. Wayne New (10), $49,686.76.
5. Debbie Ortega (at-large), $47,195.34 (incumbent).
6. Liz Adams (6), $45,595.48.
7. Chris Herndon (8), $41,637 (incumbent).
8. Halisi Vinson (4), $30,977.87.
9. Mary Beth Susman (5), $28,331.62 (incumbent).
10. Susan Shepherd (1), $28,273.36 (incumbent).
The only incumbent not to appear on either of those lists is Paul Lopez, who raised $5,250 last year and ended 2014 with $2,748.80 in cash on hand. He’s unopposed so far in west Denver’s District 3.
In 2015, candidates raising money must file monthly reports, and those for January are starting to roll in. They show that some late-entrants are catching up fast. In District 10, Anna Jones, who was spurred to run after Sherman dropped out and has received his endorsement, raised $28,075 in that single month.
As a note, the maximum contribution allowed in a cycle to a district council candidate is $1,000, and the limit is $2,000 to an at-large candidate.