Two incumbent Denver school board members trying to retain their seats have raised a combined $184,000 for their campaigns – eclipsing the amount of their competitors, according to city filings.
Theresa Peña, 45, the current school board president who is running for her at-large seat, raised $102,555 – including a donation of $15,000 by entrepreneur Tim Gill, according to a campaign finance report filed before Friday’s deadline.
Her closest competitor is John McBride, 57, who has raised $26,476 – including $20,000 in two separate donations from the Denver teachers union.
In a separate race, incumbent Bruce Hoyt, 49, is trying to retain his seat in District 1, which makes up southeast Denver. He has raised $81,785 – including several donations of $5,000.
His closest District 1 competitor is Larry Botnick, 44, who has raised $16,325 – including $10,000 from the Denver teachers union.
In the open seat for District 5 – which makes up northwest Denver – Arturo Jimenez, 35, has raised $20,654, including $5,000 from Scott Reiman, president of Hexagon Investments.
Competitor Ray Gutierrez, 22, has raised $18,580, including $10,000 from the teachers union.
Tony Curcio, 41, has raised $8,664, including a $4,000 loan from himself.
Friday was the deadline for candidates to file their last campaign financing report before Tuesday’s election. Two candidates failed to file their reports: Rita Montero in the at-large race and Frank Deserino in the District 1 race.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, 51,120 ballots had been turned in to Denver electors – 24 percent of the 210,189 ballots that had been sent to voters, according to election officials.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
