AURORA | Incumbent candidates for the November Aurora City Council election are raising thousands of dollars more than their lesser-known challengers.
Candidates were required Aug. 7 to file reports detailing how much money they had raised so far. The next report is due Oct. 15. Some incumbent candidates had cash left over from previous campaigns that they combined with other contributions. Candidates spent the money on advertising, flyers and campaign events.
In the race for two at-large council seats, incumbents Brad Pierce and Barb Cleland have raised the most money. Pierce, a lawyer, raised $31.600 in cash and has $27,300 in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period. His donors included commercial real estate firm Majestic Realty Co., landscape and architecture firm Norris Design Inc., Waste Management and Corporex Colorado.
Cleland, director of community relations and legislative issues for Aurora Mental Health, raised nearly $27,000. She has about $13,300 in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period. Her donors included the engineering and design firm Parsons Brinckerhoff, law firm Sheldon & Associates, Metro Housing Coalition, commercial real estate firm Majestic Realty Co. and Gateway Business Park.
Maya Wheeler, community outreach liaison for Denver-based Forest Street Compassionate Care Center, raised $10,100 and has $3,600 in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period. Dozens of Aurora and Denver residents contributed to her campaign.
PK Kaiser, an accounting technician, raised $5,600 and has $195 in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period. Most of the money he donated himself. Four other people donated to his campaign.
Matt Cook, a current Aurora Public Schools board member who is term-limited in November, raised $2,000 and has $1,900 in cash on hand. His contributors include himself, former APS superintendent John Barry, and four other Aurora and Denver residents.
Angela Lawson, who oversees the lobbyist registration program for the Colorado Secretary of State’s office, raised $1,400 and has $600 in cash on hand. She donated most of the money to her campaign. Six other people donated money — all of whom live outside of Aurora.
In the race for Ward I, incumbent Sally Mounier raised $9,100 and has $6,600 in cash on hand. Her donors include Blue Lagoon Asian Bistro, former council members Nadine Caldwell and Melissa Miller and law firm Kissinger & Fellman.
Eric Busch, a child welfare specialist, raised $1,500 and has $600 in cash on hand. He loaned himself $500. Others who donated to his campaign include Arapahoe County Commissioner Bill Holen, Councilwoman Molly Markert and former Councilwoman Deb Wallace.
In the Ward II race, incumbent Councilwoman Renie Peterson raised the most money — about $4,900. She has $7,200 in cash on hand. Her donors include Aurora Firefighters Protective Association, Gateway Business Park, Aiello Public Relations and Marketing, and government and community relations firm David J Cole & Associates.
Bernard Celestin, a member of Aurora’s Civil Service Commission and a bus driver for the Regional Transportation District, raised $1,500 and has $900 in cash on hand. Most of the money was donated by the Denver branch of the Amalgamated Transit Union. A few other Denver and Aurora residents donated to his campaign.
Candidate William Given did not file a finance report.
In the Ward III race, incumbent Councilwoman Marsha Berzins raised $30,800 and has $34,100 in cash on hand. Her donors include Arapahoe County Commissioner Nancy Sharpe, former state Rep. Cindy Acree, R-Aurora, U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, Aurora Chamber of Commerce president Kevin Hougen, Big Mike Naughton Ford and Niagara Bottling.
Berzins’ opponent, Chris Gutierrez, who works in finance at the University of the Rockies, is funding his campaign by himself. He loaned himself $450 and has $4 cash on hand.