Mayoral candidate Richard Skorman has collected nearly a half-million dollars in campaign contributions, out raising opponent Steve Bach by more than $100,000, according to reports filed Monday with the City Clerk’s Office.
Skorman raised $472,406 through May 5 while Bach raised $368,261 through May 8.
Bach raised $83,948 in this last reporting period.
Skorman wasn’t too far behind with $78,832 in contributions.
Skorman has spent $369,000 total, including $75,600 in the last reporting period. TV ads, polling and staffing were among Skorman’s biggest expenses.
Bach has spent about $332,000 total, including nearly $73,000 in the last reporting period. The bulk of Bach’s expenses were TV ads and consulting services.
It’s difficult to do an apples-to-apples comparison of the two candidates’ contributions and expenditures because they’ve been following different reporting deadlines.
In April, The Gazette asked Deputy City Clerk Cindy Conway whether the candidates had to file their reports five days before the deadline as Skorman has been doing or on the date stated under the city clerk’s election calendar, which is what the Bach campaign has been doing.
“The five days prior to filing deadline is appropriate,” Conway said in an email.
Conway provided the following citation from the Campaign Finance Act:
| CRS 1-45-108 (IV)(e) – Campaign Finance Act |
| (e) The reporting period for all reports required to be filed with the municipal clerk and such reports required to be filed pursuant to section 1-45-109 (1) (a) (II) and (1) (c) shall close five calendar days prior to the effective date of filing. |
Dan, can you tell me how they compared this reporting period? Or how to find it?
Debra,
Click on the links, which are the letters highlighted in blue, to find their latest campaign finance reports.
Daniel
So what if Bach reports up to the deadline? At least we have a more accurate, up to date picture of what his campaign has actually brought in and spent. And as we all know, the City Clerk’s office has not exactly been consistent during this election.
So if I read it correctly, Bach raised more than Skorman in this last report? Or am I reading it wrong?
Louise – so what if Bach reports up to the deadline? Yes, it does give a more up-to-date picture of his finances, but no matter how desirable that may be the fact is it is illegal. Even stupid laws are laws, and must be obeyed.
I agree with you – I like seeing precisely where the candidates’ finances are. But the city code is law.
Debra,
You are correct. Bach raised $83,948 in this last reporting period. Skorman wasn’t too far behind with $78,832 in contributions.
Daniel
Thank you.
There are many ads running for Bach that are costing big bucks and being funded by ultra conservative groups. If you add that into the campaign dollars there is a lot more money in Bach’s campaign.
Skorman supporters are generally smaller local businesses, downtown folks and your overall non extremist regular folks. In my opinion Bach wants the rich to get richer and Skorman wants to help the local businesses and middle class.
IIRC, the money spent by the Koch Bros / AFP is not in these totals, and if that’s true, then Bach is well ahead in the total from ALL sources. Right?
OldCrank,
Jeff Crank — any relation? — said recently that the Colorado chapter of AFP was spending close to $100,000 on its ads, which would be described as anti-Skorman, so I guess that would make them about even.
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[...]Skorman has raised $100,000 more than Bach, reports show – City Desk : Colorado Springs Gazette, CO[...]…