Still six months away from the August primary, Colorado’s two Republican gubernatorial candidates have each spent about $1 million, according to campaign finance reports released Tuesday.
Marc Holtzman and Bob Beauprez each reported raising close to $2 million. Holtzman’s totals include $540,000 in loans to himself.
For the quarter ended March 31, Holtzman reported raising $363,392, including a $150,000 loan from himself, according to campaign manager Dick Leggitt. Holtzman in the past has loaned himself $250,000 and secured a $140,000 loan for an RV, Leggitt said.
That brings his total cash raised for the election cycle to $1.9 million, with $838,920 on hand.
Beauprez raised $416,234 for the quarter, bringing his total to date just shy of $1.7 million, with $889,914 on hand.
Beauprez’s campaign emphasized that 95 percent of its funds came from Coloradans, and that none involved loans from the congressman.
Campaign spokesman John Marshall called on Holtzman, a former University of Denver president, to release his tax returns.
“He has loaned himself a half-million dollars and no one knows where it is coming from,” Marshall said.
Leggitt said Holtzman has no intention of releasing his tax returns.
“Republicans believe that tax returns and credit reports are private,” he said. “If they want to make their tax returns public, goody for them. We’re going to do what the law asks us to do.”
Earlier this month, Beauprez released his 2005 tax return, showing household income of $264,321.
Bill Ritter, the lone Democratic candidate, Monday reported raising $465,000 in the first quarter, for a total $1.15 million.
