The race to become Aurora’s next mayor is heating up with major fundraising and television ads hitting the airwaves.
Aurora Councilman Ryan Frazier raised $96,200 in the Aug. 3 to Oct. 11 reporting period. He has raised a total of about $231,000 to date. Mayoral candidate and former Councilman Steve Hogan raised $50,605 during that time and has gathered about $204,000 so far.
Four other candidates — Jude Sandvall, Sheilah Davis, Debbie Stafford and Barbara Yamrick — trailed significantly in their fundraising efforts over that same period.
Meanwhile, Hogan has a new television ad out. In it he questions Frazier’s attendance record at City Council meetings, his voting to award bonuses to three top appointees and for not working to create jobs.
“Steve Hogan’s a budget expert, a fighter for the taxpayer, and has a real jobs plan for all Aurorans,” the commercial says. “Ryan Frazier’s record? Over 60 missed council meetings, a career sending jobs overseas and no record of creating jobs here.
“Now Frazier votes for huge appointee bonuses while Steve Hogan fights against them.”
Frazier campaign spokesman Michael Fields disputes those claims, saying, among other things, that the three employees saved the city $750,000 and deserved the $17,000 in bonuses divided among them.
He also said Hogan’s commercial violates a pledge he signed at a recent candidates’ forum, agreeing to keep the campaign positive and not mislead voters.
“We’ve been focused on the issues that matter to Aurora, and I think the fact they went out and broke the pledge means they are getting a little desperate,” Fields said.
Hogan spokesman Sean Walsh said the claims against Frazier are correct and therefore, not misleading.
“We’re going to continue to be honest and forthright,” Walsh said. “It is well-documented and substantiated information to the voters without distortion or making false claims.”
Longtime Aurora mayor Ed Tauer is term-limited. The election is Nov. 1.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
