Denver Mayor Michael Hancock spoke in late September at the campaign kickoff for a ballot measure that would create a sales tax to help Denver students pay for college. (Jon Murray, The Denver Post)
Late last week, we reported that six-figure checks from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and two other contributors for a proposed Denver college-affordability sales tax ahead of Tuesday’s election, enabling the late launch of .
Those donations were revealed by pre-election fundraising reports for three active Denver ballot measure campaigns that covered Oct. 1 through Oct. 28. Here’s an updated look at the most recent contributions to the three campaigns, totaling $970,255 for the period.
Total giving now exceeds $2.5 million, including some large-contribution reports filed since last Wednesday’s report close.
The information below is an update to , about the September finance reports. You can read there about individuals and interests who gave heavily during earlier reporting periods.
1A: “Yes on 1A for DIA”
Ballot measure subject:Asks voters to approve a deal between Denver and Adams County communities to allow the first expansive commercial development on Denver International Airport property, with new tax proceeds shared evenly between the two sides. Adams County voters also will consider the same ballot measure.
Total raised: $286,500 (including at least $131,450 since Oct. 1).
Notable recent donors include: Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce ($25,000, bringing its total to $100,000), Cowley Management LLC ($12,500), ABM Parking Services ($10,000), Burns McDonnell Engineering Co. ($10,000), engineering firm HDR Inc. ($10,000), PCL Construction Services Inc. ($10,000), United Airlines ($7,500), Denver Fire Fighters Local 858 PAC ($5,000).
Key campaign firm: OnSight Public Affairs.
2A: “Yes on 2A: College Matters”
Ballot measure subject:Asks voters to approve a new sales tax that would increase Denver’s overall sales tax rate by 0.08 points (8 cents per $100 purchase) to help students pay for college, via support for scholarship groups and aid to students to help repay loans.
Total raised: $649,645 (including $468,855 since Oct. 1).
Notable recent donors include: Michael Bloomberg ($150,000), Denver Scholarship Foundation ($100,000), Tulsa philanthropist Stacy Schusterman ($100,000), Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation ($25,000), Total Renal Care, Inc. ($10,000), and Laurene Powell Jobs, president of the Emerson Collective and the late Steve Jobs’ widow ($10,000).
Key campaign firm: Strategies 360.
2C: “A Smart Deal for Denver”
Ballot measure subject:Asks voters to allow the city to borrow $476 million to help pay for the massive National Western Center project, which would remake the stock show complex, plus $105 million for an expansion and upgrade of the Colorado Convention Center. The measure would authorize the permanent extensions of 1.75 percent portions of the city’s lodging and car-rental taxes, which otherwise are set to expire in 2023, to repay the bonds.
Total raised: $1,570,535.34 (including $393,200 since Oct. 1).
Notable recent donors include: Western Stock Show Association ($90,000, bringing its total to $145,152), venue management company SMG ($25,000), Wagner Equipment ($25,000), tech provider Smart City Networks ($25,000), Fentress Architects ($25,000), event food service provider Centerplate ($25,000), real estate developer Christian Anschutz ($20,000), oil executive Barth Whitham ($15,000) and Kiewit Infrastructure ($10,000, bringing its total to $15,000).
Key campaign firm: CRL Associates.
