AURORA | The biggest financial player in Aurora’s 2025 election isn’t on the ballot, it’s the cloaked funding behind it.
A pair of political groups funded by so-called dark-money quietly dropped hundreds of thousands into the local races.
At-large Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky is leading the charge in direct fundraising as the election comes down to the wire, but it was dark-money donors who laid out the largest financial push to elect what has become a conservative campaign bloc.
Dark money is political cash raised by non-profit groups for the purpose of concealing the identity of donors. The campaign funding issue has been used heavily in Aurora, the state and the nation by both Democrats and Republicans for years.
Aurora Republicans running for city council seats, and an independent candidate, have appeared in advertising in the Sentinel and other venues, and the group have appeared publicly as a conservative bloc of candidates. They include incumbents Danielle Jurinsky, Amsalu Kassaw, Steve Sundberg, previous city Councilmember Marsha Berzins and unaffiliated challenger Stephen Elkins.
Final campaign finance reports of the 2025 Aurora City Council election cycle were filed Oct. 21, and at-large Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky emerged as the fundraising leader, along with the two conservative dark-money groups.
Republican and incumbent candidates remained the top fundraisers throughout the entire election cycle, while dark money was reported in only the last couple of months.
In Aurora, at-large campaign donations from a single contributor are capped at $1,150, while single ward candidate donations are capped at $450. In-kind contributions typically mean that someone provided services, not cash, to the candidate, such as food, venues and services.
A political committee called Building Aurora’s Future received a total of $295,000 in dark-money contributions, with $130,000 from Advance Colorado Action, a well-known conservative dark-money group that has been pouring money into Colorado politics for more than a decade. Also, $150,000 was contributed by Our Community Our Future, which is an unknown organization that only has a website with no information about the organization.
Through Building Aurora’s Future, each Republican candidate received an itemized $5,967 from the fund, including Jurinsky, Amsalu Kassaw, Steve, Berzins and Elkins.
The group also received $1,144 in legal accounting services from West Group in Denver.
Building Aurora’s Future committee received an additional $100,000 from Our Community Our Future in October, along with an additional $15,000 from Advance Colorado Action.
In October, each Republican candidate received more from the committee, with at-large candidates Jurinsky and Kassaw each receiving $36,055 for digital advertising and voter contact mail support. The ward candidates received varying amounts for digital advertising and voter contact mail support: Elkins received $23,488, Sundberg received $27,368, and Berzins received $4,164.
This amount totaled $127,132.
There were two additional expenditures of $57,828 for FCG Mail, LLC and $32,275 for 51 Republic LLC.
A second committee was created for the Democratic-leaning city council candidates, called New Era Colorado, a group that focuses on organizing young people, getting them out to vote, and advocating for progressive policies.
New Era contributed $1,799 to the Action Fund, and progressive candidates Alli Jackson, Gianina Horton, Amy Wiles and Ruben Medina each received $29 for canvassing, and Jackson and Horton received $1,683 in combined contributions from the fund for mail-in support.
At-Large Candidates
Danielle Jurinsky
Total contributions for the first reporting period totaled $255,675, and in-kind contributions totaled $900. Running for her second term, Jurinsky began her filing from the last election with $3,662.
Jurinsky, a Republican, received 150 contributions of the maximum $1,150 each.
Her most significant contribution was from Westside Investment Partners, a real estate development investment firm. The firm has active projects across the Front Range with seven in Aurora, including Aurora Crossroads and Green Valley Ranch. Andy Klein, Westside owner and founder, his wife and three children all contributed the capped $1,150 donation. The addresses they filed under were in Denver, Englewood, Centennial, Greenwood Village and Highlands Ranch.
Total contributions from Westside Investment, with each family member’s contributions, came to $10,350 in Jurinsky’s first reporting period.
It is not unusual in state and local campaigns, among Republicans and Democrats, for large contributors to get around campaign donation caps by having family members or multiple, linked businesses make donations, campaign experts say.
In the later reporting period, William Parkhill personally donated, and contributions then came from five of his companies, all involved in a 6.8-acre urban renewal project in Aurora called Metro Center, a mixed-use, transit-oriented development. The companies include Navona Investors LLC, a Colorado-based real estate company and Navona Partners LLC, along with contributions from each Parcel LLC for the property, Parcels A, B and C LLC, all of which contributed the highest amount and ultimately contributed nearly $6,900 to Jurinsky’s campaign.
Brannan Sand and Gravel and eight employees contribute to Jurinsky’s campaign, equalling $9,200 in the first reporting period.
Other groups or companies that had at least four employees contribute to Jurinsky’s campaign include HEI Civil, a construction contractor for large-scale complex infrastructure; Bison Oil and Gas, a Denver-based upstream oil and gas exploration; Westwood Professional Services, a solar energy company; Alberta Development Partners LLC; and 76 Group, including previous city council member Dustin Zvonek. The 76 Group is a Republican lobbying and political consulting company.
These five businesses alone contributed $23,000 to Jurinsky’s campaign. She also had seven CEOs and two COOs, with two CEOs included above through HEI Civil and Bison Oil and Gas.
More than $26,000 came from the real estate industry.
Jurinsky received $39,900 from Aurora donors, $80,900 from Denver donors, $16,705 from Greenwood Village, $14,270 from Englewood, $13,840 from Littleton and $13,622 from Centennial donors. The rest of her contributions came from cities and towns across the Front Range, along with a few from out of state, including Arizona, Texas and Florida.
Her total reported expenditures so far include $189,720. The top five expenditures paid for so far include Saratoga Strategies, $54,500 for political consulting and campaign strategies; DTC Print Brokers, $20,912; Look Ahead Strategies, $20,000 for a communications and research firm for political campaigns; Outdoor Promotions, or bus stop ads, $17,160; and Porchlink media for neighborhood newsletters, $13,800.
Jurinskuy spent $7,236 in Aurora, $73,226 in Denver (including Saratoga Strategies), $24,689 in Centennial, $29,372 in California and $16,160 in Littleton.
Amsalu Kassaw
Total contributions reported so far are $103,158, with $2,150 in-kind contributions.
Kassaw, a Republican at-large city council member, was appointed to his city council seat last year. He received 45 contributions for the capped amount of $1,150.
His more notable $1,150 contributions came from James and Jill Spehalski. James is the owner of Marathon Land Company, and his wife and six employees each contributed $1,150.
Other top contributors include prevalent land developer Andrew Chaikovsky and Carol Chaikovsky, who both donated $1,150.
Many of his contributions came from fellow Aurora Ethiopian immigrants, with whom he has strong ties to the large community.
Kassaw received $37,431 of his current contributions from residents in Aurora, $29,190 from Denver, $8,382 from Littleton, $5,986 from Centennial, $5,121 from Greenwood Village, $ 5,048 from Highlands Ranch, and from other surrounding cities on the Front Range.
Total expenditures reported so far have been $81,360.
The top five expenditures were for Saratoga Strategies $40,000 for political consulting and campaign strategies, Majority Strategies LLC $14,232.34 for a Republican political advertising firm, DTC Print Brokers $8,378.44, Ringside Consulting $2,000.00 and Horizon Reprographics, for $1,315.
Kassaw spent $2,212 in Aurora and $48,785 in Denver. He also spent $14,232 in Dallas, Texas, for Majority Strategies, a Republican advertising firm.
Robert Andrews
Total contributions reported were $46,015, and in-kind contributions came to $2,642.
Andrews contributed $10,175 to his own at-large campaign, according to city campaign records.
Andrews, a Democrat, ran for mayor in the last city council election, but he stepped down to “not split the vote” with fellow Democrat Juan Marcano, local Democratic Party officials said. Marano lost the election to Mayor Mike Coffman. Andrews is running for Aurora City Council At-Large in this election.
Andrews has received chiefly small donations. Some of his largest and most notable contributions came from the 18th Judicial District Attorney Amy Padden for $1,150, John Bailey with the Black Round Table for $1,150, Former Democratic Arapahoe County Commissioner Nancy Jackson for $200 and former Democratic State House Rep. Karen Middleton for $500.
Contributions include $24,485 from Aurora donors, $13,900 from Denver donors, and the rest from various locations across the state.
Andrews’ total expenditures so far have been $41,627, with the top five services being 4Degrees Digital communications and political advertising firm for $17,000, Hilltop Public Solutions, a campaign management company for $12,554, Political consultant Howard Chou for $4,200, Corazon Printing for $2,847 and Jeff Person, a campaign consultant for $1,000.
The majority of Andrew’s expenditures were in Denver at $18,525. He spent $559 in Aurora and $12,554 in Avon for Hilltop Public Solutions.
Alli Jackson
Jackson, a Democrat, is running for Aurora City Council at-large.
Jackson’s reported contributions totaled $17,000, and in-kind contributions were $750.00; she donated $100 to her own campaign.
Top and most notable contributors include Arnold Shultz, the president and chair at Recreational Opportunities for Aurora Residents, who donated $1,150, Pam Culig, a nurse practitioner, gave $740, and family member Karlton Culig, an Aurora Public Schools teacher, gave $200.
Contributions include $10,387 from Aurora donors, $2,930 from Denver donors and a few from other Colorado cities and places like Alaska and Missoula, Montana.
Total expenditures so far have been $8,517, with top expenditures being Corazon Printing for $2,775, DSPolitical political advertising for Democrats for $1,540, the Aurora Sentinel for $1,300, Good Guy Signs for $483 and Artist Proof Collective print shop for $456.
Watson Gomes
Watson is unaffiliated, running for Aurora City Council at-large.
Watson’s reported contributions totaled $660.00, and he donated $100 to his own campaign.
The top and most notable contributors include $300 from Jeffery Brown, the manager of Lawrence Construction Company, and $100 from Matthew Wasserman, the founder and principal at Make Philanthropy Work.
Contributions include $400 from Aurora donors and $300 from Littleton donors.
Total expenditures reported so far have been $110: $99.95 for Bulk Texter Pro and $10 for Good Party LLC.
Ward I
Rev. Reid Hettich
Hettich, an unaffiliated candidate and Aurora pastor, is running for Aurora City Council Ward I.
Total Contributions $20,160 and in-kind contributions $1,140; $10,658 was left over from a previous mayoral election.
Hettich’s notable contributions include Barb and Kevin Hougen, the former president and CEO of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, each for $450, Tina Sorensen, who provided in-kind marketing consultant work for $1,210, and Aurora Planning Commissioner Becky Hogan, the wife of former Republican Mayor Steve Hogan and now a managing member of Edge Consulting for $450.
He also received $450 from the Metro Housing Coalition Political Committee.
Contributions include $17,590 from Aurora donors, $950 from Denver donors and $1,200 from South Dakota donors.
Total Expenditures so far have been $15,368, with the top payees being Reid Hettich, Reid4Aurora for $12,892, which includes $1,748 for campaign consultants, Julie Speer, Joseph Fox, an Aurora media producer and Tina Hettich Sorensen $277 for marketing and engagement.
Hettich spent $13,342 in Aurora and $1,748 in Salida.
Stephan Elkins
Elkins, an unaffiliated candidate, is running for Aurora City Council Ward I.
His total contributions reported were $18,765, and his in-kind contributions were $1,107; he donated $1,037 to his own campaign.
One of Elkins’ largest contributions came from Jerry Jurinsky, Danielle Jurinsky’s father, who donated $450. Other notable contributions include Jake Zambrano with the 76 Group, a Republican lobbying and political consulting company, who contributed $450, and Monica Burton with 76 Group, who contributed $200. Haselden Construction had three employees, all named Haselden, who contributed the full $450 to Elkins.
The Metro Housing Coalition Campaign Committee donated $450, and the Realtor Small Donor Committee contributed $1,000.
Contributions include $5,742 from Aurora donors, $4,630 from Denver donors, $3,450 from Littleton donors, and $2,000 from Englewood donors.
Total expenditures reported so far are $10,437, including $5,671 to Saratoga Strategies LLC, $ 906 to DTC Print Brokers, $ 750 to Blitz Canvassing LLC, and $ 430 to Wizbang Solutions, a printer and mailer service.
Gianina Horton
Horton, a Democrat, is running for Aurora City Council Ward I.
Total Contributions $18,336 and In-Kind contributions $453.
Horton’s top and most notable contributors include receiving the capped amount of $450 from Alison Phillips of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, Arnold Shultz, the president and chair of Recreational Opportunities for Aurora Residents, and Kevin Amirehsani, Senior Policy Advisor on Tax Policy at the Colorado Governor’s Office.
Contributions include $3,284 from Aurora donors, $7,885 from Denver donors, and other contributions from donors in other Colorado cities, as well as $975 from California.
Total Expenditures so far have been $10,405, with the top five payees including Community of Color Organizing, civic engagement for $3,373.08, Eye Contact Media LLC, a media consultant for $2,500, Artistic Apparel, a graphic design company in Aurora for $1,114, Pat Lombardi, web and graphic design for $760 and MinuteMan Press for $549.
Horton spent $1,867 in Aurora, $3,573 in Denver and $2,500 in Minnesota.
Ward II candidates
Steve Sundberg
Sundberg, a Republican incumbent city council member in Ward II, received 132 contributions for the capped amount of $450.
Total contributions reported totaled $76,495, and he began his filing from the last election with $4,829.
He had only one company with more than three employees that contributed to his campaign. Advantage Security had six employees contribute to Sundberg, totaling $2,700.
Sundberg also had William Parkhill personally donate, and contributions then came from two of his companies, all involved in a 6.8-acre urban renewal project in Aurora called Metro Center, a mixed-use, transit-oriented development parcel LLC for the property, Parcels A, B and C LLC, all of which contributed the highest amount and ultimately contributed $1,350.
Four real estate employees for Marathon Land Company contributed, and three employees, all with the last name Haselden from Haselden Construction, each contributed the full $450 to Sundberg.
Some notable contributions Sundberg received came from a U.S. Senate Republican candidate who lost in 2022, Joseph O’Dea and Celeste O’Dea, Jake Zambrano and former Aurora Councilmember Dustin Zvonek with the 76 Group, and Jake’s wife, Alyssa, who works for The Common Sense Institute, a right-leaning think tank. They all gave the maximum donation allowed.
Sunberg received $15,980 from Aurora donors, $18,580 from Denver donors, $8,930 from Centennial donors, $4,725 from Littleton and the majority of the rest came from donors based in cities on the Front Range.
Total Expenditures reported were $64,132, with the top five payees being Majority Strategies, a Republican advertising firm for $36,575, Public Relations Services $5,000 in Arizona, Art Works Serigraphy, Inc., screen printing in Aurora for $3,146, Ringside Consulting, accounting and finance for $3,000 and Anthem Communication for $2,575.
Sundberg spent $36,575 in Dallas, $3,752 in Aurora, $5,123 in Arizona, $5,000 in Wheat Ridge and $2,260 in Denver.
Amy Wiles
Wiles, a Democrat, is running for Ward II Aurora City Council.
Total cash contributions reported were $11,960, and in-kind contributions of $1,871.
Top and Notable contributors include Jacqueline Crockett for $450, Ann Hammell, director of Homewatch, for $450, and Pam Culig, nurse practitioner, who donated $450. Her family member, Karlton Culig, donated $250, Arnold Shultz, president and chair of Recreational Opportunities for Aurora Residents and Andrew Klien, a principal with Westside Investment Partners, donated $450 to Wiles and a few other candidates.
Wiles received $9,353 from Aurora donors, $600 from Greenwood Village, $312 from Denver, and the rest was spread out from different cities across the Front Range and small amounts from states like Missouri.
Total expenditures so far have been $9,560, with the top payees being Eye Contact Media LLC, a media consultant for $3,500, MityMo Creative web design, ecommerce and political campaigns for $2,287, Good Guys Signs for $1,574, Minuteman Press for $899 and Good Party LLC, a political technology organization for $392.
Wiles spent $958 in Aurora, $3,500 in California for Eye Contact Media and $3,862 in Florida for MityMo and Good Guys.
Ward III candidates
Rueben Medina
Medina is a Democrat, incumbent city council member for Ward III, and all contributions reported came from the Committee to Elect Ruben Medina.
Total cash contributions reported were $20,221, and in-kind contributions of $300.
Top and Notable contributors include Andrew Klien with Westside for $450, Arnold Shultz, president and chair at Recreational Opportunities for Aurora Residents, Donna Flansburg, Jessica Alizadeh, realtor, Rita Connerly, real estate attorney at Fairfield and Woods, Daniel Green with JAGreen Development LLC and Fred Marvel with Brannan Sand and Gravel, all donated $450.
Medina received $7,781 from Aurora donors, $5,620 from Denver, $1,850 from Littleton, $1,250 from Greenwood Village, $850 from Walsenburg, Colorado, and other Colorado cities, and from some states, including Nevada.
Total expenditures so far have been $5,208, with the top payees being Corazon Printing for $2,486, Azul Strategies for $800.00, Minuteman Press Aurora for $580, Bumble Tea for $524 and L2, Inc. for $478.
Medina spent $1,332 in Aurora, $2,486 in Broomfield and $800 in Virginia.
Marsha Berzins
Berzins is a Republican and a former city council member, currently running for Aurora City Council Ward II.
Contributions reported so far total $31,839, including $6,116 from a previous run for Aurora City Council. She also contributed $3,000 to her own campaign and received $ 450 in-kind contributions.
Top and most notable contributions include Vic, Sharon, Ryan, and Rachel Evans, each for $450. Vic Evans is a principal for Advantage Security. Donations included James Spehalski of Marathon Land Company for $450, local housing developer Carla Ferreira for $450, Michael Sheldon for $450, and Peter Mueller for $450. Metro Housing Coalition also contributed $450, and the Realtor Small Donor Committee donated $1,000.
Contributions include $10,758 from Aurora donors, $6,419 from Denver donors, $3,492 from Centennial, $2,354 from Englewood, and $2,926 from Littleton, with the majority of her remaining contributions coming from cities surrounding Aurora.
Total Expenditures reported so far are $9,860, with the top payees being DTC Print Brokers for $5,341, Blitz Canvas for $1,250, 303 Creative for $1,650, and Bridger Carson Consultants for $500.
Berzins spent $401 in Aurora, $5,341 in Centennial for DTC Brokers, $1,750 in Denver and $1,812 in Littleton.
Please Aurora, don’t let your vote be bought. We need civil leaders not war mongers. Vote wisely.
Does this say that Reid Hettich has paid Reid Hettich $15k raised from Aurora donors? And that he took money from a mayoral campaign for a councilmember campaign? How is that allowed?????????
National GOP corruption has sunk its claws into Aurora politics. I saw this coming along with Never Had a Private Sector, Homeless Mike Coffman’s attempt to seize power as mayor. Pretty soon this is going to be one of those crappy Red State cities out of step with real working people.