The campaign supporting Denver’s successful bid to build a new jail and courthouse collected nearly $37,000 in the days before and after the May 3 election, putting its final tally at $684,550.
Voters approved the $378 million project 56 percent to 44 percent. The justice center – which will include 1,500 jail beds and 35 courtrooms along West Colfax Avenue – will open in 2009.
Following a theme established early in the campaign, the largest contributions came from construction and development companies. Those included $5,000 from Shea Homes, $5,000 from the Weitz Co. and $5,000 from Denver West chief executive Greg Stevinson.
The campaign – Citizens for a Safe Denver – had spent all but $19,566 by last week, according to a finance report filed by the campaign. The campaign intends to use the balance to pay bills, a spokeswoman said.
Citizens for a Safe Denver also reported receiving nearly $12,000 of in-kind contributions of services just prior to the election. That put its total of in-kind contributions for the year at $15,882.
The campaign opposing the jail – Citizens for Responsible Spending – relied almost entirely on in-kind contributions. It reported receiving $57,913 in in-kind services around the election, putting its total at $72,013.
