Mayoral candidate Chris Romer loaned his campaign nearly $500,000 in May, helping to make his campaign against City Councilman Michael Hancock the most expensive in city history.
Including loans, Romer, a former banker and state senator, raised a total of $1.1 million in the five-week period that ended June 1.
Romer has loaned his campaign a total of $673,300 over the course of the contest — including $200,000 on the day he was endorsed by third-place finisher James Mejia.
“I am going to leave everything on the field,” Romer said. “We have raised over $2.3 million. The amount I have contributed is less than 25 percent.”
Combined, Romer and Hancock have raised a total of $4 million in advance of Tuesday’s runoff.
The previous record was from 2003, when eventual mayor John Hickenlooper and competitor Don Mares raised a combined total of $3 million by the campaign’s end.
According to filings given to the city, Romer has raised a total of $2.6 million over the campaign, including the $673,300 in loans. He’s spent a total of $2.5 million.
Hancock, who finished second to Romer on May 3, has raised $1.5 million over the course of the campaign and has spent a total of $1.35 million. He raised a total of $700,487 in May with no loans to his campaign.
“Our surge in fundraising shows that Denver’s families, neighborhoods and businesses are increasingly putting their trust in our positive campaign and shared vision for moving Denver forward,” Hancock said.
One telling figure comes from the major-contributor report, in which candidates must disclose daily contributions of more than $500 until election day.
Hancock on Wednesday — the most recent figures available — raised $107,950.
Romer on that same day raised $17,000.
The Romer campaign was late in delivering its results to the city Thursday.
Romer, however, in a brief interview before a lunch Friday, presented a positive frame of mind.
“Look, we’re very excited about our opportunity for victory,” he said. “I fully believe in our campaign. I am going to leave everything on the field. I really think I’ll be a good mayor.”
Political pundits believe the finances are among the best ways to determine the momentum of a campaign.
“It is very hard to get campaign contributions when there is a sense that you are behind,” said Floyd Ciruli, a Denver political observer.
Norman Provizer, a political science professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver, said some of the nation’s most influential politicians loan their campaigns money.
“Look at (New York Mayor) Michael Bloomberg,” he said, although Romer appears to have needed the cash to keep his campaign afloat.
“That is a sign that there is a good deal of uncertainty about the results,” he said.
Romer has gotten 81 contributions of the maximum $3,000. And Hancock has gotten 77 contributions of $3,000.
Notable Romer donors include strip-club owner Troy Lowrie, who contributed $15,000 in May and has given Romer a total of $45,000 through his various companies.
Also, Romer got money from Alex Cranberg through his businesses; Robin Chotin; and the Denver Area Labor Federation.
Hancock got maximum donations from Denver nightclub owner Regas Christou, City Councilwoman Carol Boigon and Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk.
Both Romer and Hancock got maximum contributions from Denver businessman Thomas Gamel, the Gary-Williams company and James Leprino from Leprino Foods.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
Mayor
Chris Romer
Cash raised this period: $1,143,694
Personal loans this period: $540,000
Cash raised to date: $2,584,089
Cash on hand: $102,097
Michael Hancock
Cash raised this period: $700,000
Personal loans this period: $0
Cash raised to date: $1,491,696
Cash on hand: $140,540
Council District 1
Susan Shepherd
Cash raised this period: $20,930
Personal loans this period: $19,000
Cash raised to date: $41,542
Cash on hand: $19,380
Ken Padilla
Cash raised this period: $9,525
Personal loans this period: $3,000
Cash raised to date: $27,270
Cash on hand: $834.63
Council District 5
Mary Beth Susman
Cash raised this period: $15,986
Personal loans this period: $3,798
Cash raised to date: $66,092
Cash on hand: $13,241
Steve Saunders
Cash raised this period: $17,790
Personal loans this period: $0
Cash raised to date: $66,869
Cash on hand: $5,055
Council District 8
Wil Alston
Cash raised this period: $24,185
Personal loans this period: $1,000
Cash raised to date: $35,870
Cash on hand: $10,232
Albus Brooks
Cash raised this period: $28,010
Personal loans this period: $10
Cash raised to date: $42,630
Cash on hand: $12,116
Clerk and recorder
Debra Johnson
Cash raised this period: $12,925
Personal loans this period: $3,150
Cash raised to date: $33,795
Cash on hand: $102.94
Sarah McCarthy
Cash raised this period: $7,085
Personal loans this period: $600
Cash raised to date: $16,520
Cash on hand: $1,547
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to incorrect information provided to The Denver Post,
Robin
Chotin’s affiliation with the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado was incorrectly described.
Chotin holds no board position with the federation.
