Redrawn boundaries take effect for Denver’s 2015 City Council election, with all 11 districts and two at-large seats on the ballot.
With six open races and shifted district lines, the Denver election for City Council is drawing serious money. Some candidates have been surging in the last month or two.
Ahead of the May 5 election (and a potential June 2 run-off), several competitive races are heating up. In just over five weeks, mail ballots will go out to voters.
Coming up on Thursday — one day after candidates must submit enough confirmed voter signatures on ballot petitions — the clerk and recorder’s office will use a random drawing to determine ballot order in each race. Also up this year are auditor and the clerk and recorder’s office. And, of course, Denver mayor. But there’s no real contest there, with Mayor Michael Hancock looking likely to slide into a second term with no serious challenge.
Even so, Hancock raised an impressive $136,515 in February, with his total contributions in this cycle topping $1.1 million.
After a couple recent council candidate withdrawals, here are how races look now, with fundraising totals through Feb. 28. (The latest campaign finance reports were filed late last week.) I’ve also noted when candidates have donated more than $1,000 to their own campaigns — one has dipped into his pockets for $50,000 — or loaned their campaigns money. And I’ve included maps that show which neighborhoods are now in each district.
Those marked with an asterisk had not yet qualified for the ballot as of Friday.
>>AT-LARGE
Incumbents Robin Kniech and Debbie Ortega are seeking second terms as at-large members. Voters make two selections, and there is no run-off in this race.
Robin Kniech*: $96,602.14 ($10,770 in February; $78,746.94 cash on hand)
Deborah L. Ortega: $52,595 ($4,535 in February; $48,984.92 cash on hand)
Kayvan Khalatbari*: $14,400 ($1,200 in February; $12,286.29 cash on hand). Includes $8,000 from himself.
Jose Silva*: $1,395 (February report pending)
Larry Del Blanton*: $27 ($0 in February; $27 cash on hand)
Kenday Samuel Kamara*: (no fundraising reported)
Jeremy Martinez*: (no fundraising reported)
Jeffery Washington: (no fundraising reported)
>>DISTRICT 1 (northwest)
Denver City Council District 1 for the 2015 election.
This race may be the most competitive fight for an incumbent, with first-term Councilwoman Susan Shepherd seeking re-election.
Susan Shepherd: $55,620 ($8,065 in February; $26,859.53 cash on hand)
Rafael Espinoza: $14,605 ($1,275 in February; $8,920.90 cash on hand). Espinoza loaned his campaign $4,000 (not included in contribution total).
Malachi Martinez*: (no fundraising reported)
>>DISTRICT 2 (southwest)
Denver City Council District 2 for the 2015 election.
Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz is term-limited, leaving an open race to succeed her. It is among the more competitive races and may end with a run-off.
Kevin Flynn: $27,558 ($7,990 in February; $18,854.42 cash on hand)
John Kidd: $12,985.29 ($6,730 in February; $9,009.69 cash on hand). Includes $2,125 from himself.
Fran Coleman: $8,440 ($7,020 in February; $1,660 cash on hand)
Corrie Houck*: $5,230 ($635 in February; $26,536.27 cash on hand). Houck loaned $25,000 to her campaign and recorded a $1,553 loan from her previous state House campaign fund (those are not included in her contribution total).
Jeanne Labuda*: $3,580 ($2,345 in February; $65.23 cash on hand)
Danny Lopez*: (no fundraising reported)
>>DISTRICT 3 (west)
Denver City Council District 3 for the 2015 election.
Incumbent Councilman Paul Lopez, seeking a third term, is unopposed.
Paul Lopez*: $9,615 ($600 in February; $4,667.65 cash on hand)
>>DISTRICT 4 (southeast)
Denver City Council District 4 for the 2015 election.
Councilwoman Peggy Lehmann is term-limited, leaving an open race to succeed her.
Kendra Black: $128,192 ($26,110 in February; $78,549.33 cash on hand)
Halisi Vinson: $66,996.80 ($16,287.45 in February; $55,155.53 cash on hand)
Carolina Klein*: (no fundraising reported)
Jeffrey Garcia*: (no fundraising reported)
>>DISTRICT 5 (east)
Denver City Council District 5 for the 2015 election.
Incumbent Councilwoman Mary Beth Susman, seeking a second term, is unopposed.
Mary Beth Susman: $29,694.22 ($1,300.94 in February; $28,793.53 cash on hand)
>>DISTRICT 6 (southeast)
Denver City Council District 6 for the 2015 election.
Councilman Charlie Brown is term-limited, leaving an open race to succeed him.
Liz Adams: $84,040 ($15,445 in February; $51,617.55 cash on hand).
Paul Kashmann: $49,493.40 ($15,121 in February; $42,306.15 cash on hand)
Warren Greeley*: (no fundraising reported)
>>DISTRICT 7 (south)
Denver City Council District 7 for the 2015 election.
Councilman Chris Nevitt decided against seeking a third term and is running for Denver city auditor, leaving an open race to succeed him. This nine-way race has the largest field and is hyper-competitive, likely headed for a runoff.
Aaron Greco*: $48,843.34 ($17,005 in February; $39,779.64 cash on hand)
Jolon Clark: $46,085 ($10,365 in February; $38,923.87 cash on hand). Includes $1,600 from himself.
Anne McGihon: $34,442.77 ($14,330 in February; $27,160.29 cash on hand)
Mickki Langston: $24,011 ($6,661 in February; $12,596.79 cash on hand)
Ian Harwick*: $13,520.15 ($6,170 in February; $10,754.26 cash on hand)
Luchia Brown: $10,360 ($1,445 in February; $14,913.04 cash on hand). Brown loaned $10,000 to her campaign (not included in contribution total).
Jake Viano*: $10,201.81 ($1,175.98 in February; $128.76 cash on hand)
Mathews “Mateos” Alvarez: $5,215 ($4,055 in February; $3,106.60 cash on hand).
Michael Levy*: (no fundraising reported)
>>DISTRICT 8 (northeast)
Denver City Council District 8 for the 2015 election.
Incumbent Councilman Chris Herndon, currently the council president, is seeking a second term. He lived in District 11 before redistricting.
Christopher Herndon: $75,262 ($17,600 in February; $52,581.61 cash on hand)
Jon Bowman*: (no fundraising reported)
>>DISTRICT 9 (downtown/north)
Denver City Council District 9 for the 2015 election.
Incumbent Councilman Albus Brooks is seeking a second term.
Albus Brooks: $162,284.02 ($7,490 in February; $64,404.41 cash on hand)
Michael Borcherding*: $9,445 ($2,385 in February; $5,823.01 cash on hand). Includes $5,010 from himself.
Ean Tafoya: $3,265 ($1,425 in February; $2,948.33 cash on hand)
>>DISTRICT 10 (central)
Denver City Council District 10 for the 2015 election.
Councilwoman Jeanne Robb is term-limited, leaving an open race to succeed her. The race drew several new candidates after a well-funded candidate dropped out late last year.
Wayne New: $96,934 ($7,700 in February; $49,432.73 cash on hand). Includes $3,000 from himself.
Chris Chiari*: $59,650 ($29,475 in February; $49,524.62 cash on hand). Includes $50,000 from himself.
Anna Jones: $56,285.50 ($28,210.50 in February; $43,850.01 cash on hand)
Chris Cornell Wedor: $31,030 ($5,205 in February; $26,994.30 cash on hand). Includes $21,850 from himself.
Travis Leiker: $20,954.26 ($7,004.26 in February; $16,409.61 cash on hand)
Kevin Salsich*: (no fundraising reported)
>>DISTRICT 11 (far northeast and airport)
Denver City Council District 11 for the 2015 election, including Denver International Airport (not shown).
Redistricting moved Councilman Chris Herndon to District 8 for 2015, so this race is open — and competitive.
Sean Bradley*: $31,905 ($3,475 in February; $15,373.84 cash on hand)
Stacie Gilmore: $31,491.74 ($8,805 in February; $25,996.29 cash on hand). Includes $6,100 from herself.
Tea Schook: $23,229 ($3,590 in February; $15,687.95 cash on hand)
Shelli Brown: $18,494 ($4,995 in February; $9,364.91 cash on hand)
Tim Camarillo: (no fundraising reported, but -$1,750 cash on hand due to reported spending)
>>MAYOR
Mayor Michael Hancock is seeking a second term. He has not attracted a serious challenge.
Michael Hancock: $1,103,873.51 ($136,515 in February; $647,964.66 cash on hand)
Marcus Giavanni*: (no fundraising reported but -$559.98 cash on hand due to reported spending)
Paul Fiorino*: (no fundraising reported)
Scott Hoftiezer*: (no fundraising reported)
Chairman Seku*: (no fundraising reported)
>>AUDITOR
Three-term Auditor Dennis Gallagher is term-limited, opening the race to Councilman Chris Nevitt and former appointed state auditor Tim O’Brien.
Chris Nevitt: $232,658.31 ($30,755 in February; $198,628.93 cash on hand)
Timothy O’Brien: $23,035 ($5,790 in February; $18,101.10 cash on hand). O’Brien also loaned his campaign $10,000 (not reflected in total contributions)
>>CLERK AND RECORDER
Debra Johnson: $8,640.79 ($1,013.65 in February; $2,378.51 cash on hand). Includes $1,402.91 from herself.
Joan Poston: $1,000 ($500 in February; $807.99 cash on hand). She is self-funded so far.
*Note: Asterisk means the candidate has not yet qualified for the ballot. The deadline for petition submission and signature verification is March 11.
