Campaign-finance rules keep the sums that can be donated to campaigns for governor, lawmakers and even the state school board in check.
But the sky is the limit for contributions to local school board races.
Never has the limitless giving been more evident than in this year’s Denver school board race, in which businessman Thomas Gamel and his associates gave more than $200,000 to three candidates, and the local teachers union countered with $30,000 for a different bloc of candidates.
The big chunks of change poured into the races have left some observers worried that the winners will be too beholden to their benefactors.
“The law needs to be changed,” said Michelle Moss, a term-limited Denver school board member. “It is inexcusable to me to have one or two individuals or groups buy these elections. We need to absolutely make sure that these elections are above reproach. I don’t think we could say that about this campaign.”
Gamel, investor and president of Timpte Industries, was the biggest player in the school board race, but only one of three candidates he supported won. Two of the three candidates supported by the union won.
Colorado voters have twice approved campaign-finance laws in statewide ballot issues.
The Colorado Education Association opposed the first campaign-finance reform, Amendment 15, which was passed in 1996 and included school district elections. That amendment was overturned in the courts.
Amendment 27, passed in 2002, imposed campaign limits on every state elected office — from district attorneys to University of Colorado regents. But the law left out local school board candidates, who are considered state officers in the constitution.
“Do I believe that our whole contribution plan, to any candidate, needs to be overhauled and reformed? I do,” said Theresa Peña, the Denver school board president who, in 2007, accumulated $216,610 for the at-large race she won.
Teachers unions have been longtime players in school board campaigns, reliably contributing thousands of dollars to candidates throughout the state and drawing criticism that candidates become beholden to the unions.
In the 2007 DPS campaign, Bruce Benson, now the University of Colorado president, gave $20,000 to Peña and $15,000 to Arturo Jimenez, who also won.
“We way outspent the union,” said Benson, who as part of his current job has agreed not to get involved in politics. “I spent because I care passionately and support what needs to be done.”
Little-noticed campaigns
School board races typically fly under the radar. They are held during off-year election cycles, and turnout is typically poor. This year, 18 percent of Denver voters returned their mail-in ballots, compared with 66.4 percent overall turnout the year before.
Some argue that low turnout numbers justify the increased spending — to get out the word about candidates. Others argue that no race should have limits.
“You can impose strict constitutional limits on school board races, but that’s not going to do anything to slow down the flow of outside money into these campaigns,” said Rob Witwer, a former state representative who is working on a book about campaign-finance reform. “When you limit the contributions, you push it into the shadows. “
Gamel has thrived as a businessman in Denver for decades, making millions in savvy business deals and through his company that makes truck trailers.
Gamel has been a board member of Denver’s aquarium and the zoo and a supporter of Colorado Uplift. He has given money to Metropolitan State College of Denver but only recently to K-12 education.
“I have always been oriented toward helping inner-city kids,” Gamel said. “But I didn’t want to give to Denver Public Schools. It was like throwing money down a rat hole.”
Through the Denver Public Schools Foundation, Gamel has thrown his financial support to Cole Arts & Science Academy — an innovation school that operates outside of many union and district rules — spending $150,000 there so far this year on equipment, the staff and after-school and Saturday tutoring for 128 kids.
“My goal is to make this the shining light, not only of Denver but of the country,” Gamel said.
Next, he says, he wants to build up DPS. That’s one reason he decided to pour money into the school board race.
Gamel and his associates gave Mary Seawell at least $130,350. Seawell won her race by more than a 2-to-1 ratio.
Seawell said the decision to take Gamel’s money weighed on her.
“I made a decision to accept Tom Gamel’s money because he was asking for nothing, and he believed in me and DPS,” Seawell said. “I could be damaged by this. I know that.”
Seawell said she believed she had to continue to raise money because she didn’t know what the other side was amassing.
Losing candidate concerned
Her opponent, Christopher Scott, conceded by congratulating Gamel for a race well run.
“I hope that the children of Denver will benefit from the nearly one-quarter of a million dollars Thomas Gamel and his associates spent to buy these board seats,” Scott said.
Gamel is quick to point out that two candidates he financially supported lost.
“It shows you that money doesn’t win every time.” he said. “I like that. I don’t think money should buy elections. I think quality candidates and issues won the election.”
In fact, Gamel said he thinks all campaigns should have spending limits. “I don’t think someone should be able to dominate an election. I think that is indecent.”
Asked whether he thought what he did was indecent, he said “it probably was.
“But it was allowed,” he said.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
