City Desk ~ An insider’s view of the policies and politics of Colorado Springs city government

Archive for the 'Camille Blakely' Tag

Show me the money: Where did Bach and Skorman spend their cash?

May 17th, 2011, 12:19 pm by

The mayor’s race smashed previous fundraising records for a city race, with Steve Bach and Richard Skorman collecting more than $866,000 in campaign contributions between them through May 12.

Expect that number to increase, possibly reaching the $1 million mark, after the two candidates file their final campaign reports with the City Clerk’s Office June 16.

So, where did Bach and Skorman spend their money?

Voters who watch TV and listen to the radio know the answer. The two candidates clogged the airwaves with campaign commercials that started as early as March, but they also spent big bucks on consultants and other staffing costs.

Bach raised nearly $382,000 through May 12, according to his latest statement of contributions and expenditures.

Highlights from Bach’s campaign filings.

Most of Bach’s campaign war chest went toward TV and radio spots, though his campaign statements don’t specify how much he spent at individual TV or radio stations. Bach paid Rock Chalk Media, based in Grand Junction, $228,480 for multiple media buys.

Bach employed eight consultants at a total cost of $67,020.

The top earner was Littleton-based Starboard Group, a strategic management and development consulting firm that was paid more than $18,000. Bach’s chief of staff, Laura Carno, earned nearly $17,000, and Springs-based Chuck Broerman Consulting pocketed $14,250.

Bach, who blanketed the city with campaign signs, invested more than $20,000 in signs and materials to post them up. Bach placed five separate orders for signs from the Victory Store in Iowa at a cost of nearly $14,000.

Skorman reported nearly $485,000 in contributions in his most recent campaign filing, but expect Skorman to break the $500,000 mark when all is said and done.

Highlights from Skorman’s campaign filings:

The local television market cashed in on the mayoral race.

Skorman aired his TV ads on several stations, spending nearly $43,000 with Comcast; $38,000 with KOAA; $32,000 with KKTV; $21,300 with KRDO; and $19,500 with Citadel Broadcasting. Skorman spent the least amount of money – $8,300 – with KXRM, which is the local Fox affiliate.

Skorman spent at least $10,300 on newspaper advertising, including $8,921 with the Independent newspaper. Indy Publisher John Weiss took a leave of absence from the weekly’s news and editorial departments to work on Skorman’s campaign.

Skorman forked over about $33,500 on wages for campaign workers, with Alex Cobell leading the pack with nearly $16,000 in earnings since January.

Consultants played a big role in Skorman’s campaign.

Blakely + Co., a Springs-based marketing and public relations firm, received about $43,852 through May 6. Bob Schaeffer pocketed $25,498, and Denver-based 3PG Consulting LLC, which helps candidates fundraise, earned about $15,500 for its work.

Skorman also spent a big chunk of money to gauge voter opinions. Springs-based Luce Research received more than $35,000 for polling and other research.

Posted in: Elections • • • • • • | 8 Comments »

Don’t give developers the keys to City Hall, Skorman says in new ad

May 6th, 2011, 2:32 pm by

In his third and final TV ad, mayoral candidate Richard Skorman says he’s the “clear choice” for mayor and that voters shouldn’t give developers the keys to City Hall, a message he’s hammered throughout the campaign trail.

Campaign spokeswoman Camille Blakely said the ad will start airing tonight through May 17, which is Election Day.

In the ad, Skorman totally looks the part, appearing in a suit and tie while sitting in a fancy office in what appears to be the Plaza of the Rockies.

“You have a clear choice for strong mayor,” Skorman says in the ad.

(To watch the ad, click here.)

“I can bring lasting change to this city because I’ve already done it before,” he says, referring to the Trails Open Space and Parks initiative, as the camera scans one of the city’s open spaces with snow-capped Pikes Peak in the background.

“I’ll make City Hall more efficient, but I won’t compromise public safety,” says Skorman, who has been endorsed by the Colorado Springs Police Protective Association and the Colorado Springs Professional Firefighters Association.

“I’ll help grow local businesses and recruit new ones to add needed jobs,” he says.

“We shouldn’t give developers the keys to City Hall because they’ve had too much influence for too long,” he says.

“Join me in making Colorado Springs better for all of us. Vote Skorman for a real change.”

Posted in: Elections • Parks • • • • • | 10 Comments »

Confusion and blame abounds over canceled Tea Party debate

April 21st, 2011, 3:03 pm by

Sit back, Colorado Springs, the runoff election is going to be a bumpy ride.

A proposed debate between Steve Bach and Richard Skorman is at the center of the latest controversy, and accusations are flying over who is to blame for its cancellation.

It started Thursday morning when Mitch Christiansen, a former candidate for mayor who is endorsing Bach, sent a news release via email claiming that a debate planned for May 9 had to be canceled.

In the email, Christiansen identified himself as a representative of the El Paso County Tea Party.

“The Tea Party, in conjunction with Citizens Project, have cancelled the planned May 9, 2011 mayoral debate at the Stargazers (because of) coordination and schedule issues between the Tea Party and Citizens Project and the failure to respond by Richard Skorman to accept the debate,” he wrote.

“The biggest disappointment was the failure of a cooperative venture between Citizens Project and the Tea Party,” Christiansen wrote.

But Kristy Milligan, executive director of the Citizens Project, and Camille Blakely, a spokeswoman for Skorman, said Christiansen got his facts wrong.

“I have spoken with Mr. Christiansen and clarified that Citizens Project did not agree to co-sponsor the May 9 debate with the Tea Party,” Milligan said in an email. “While Citizens Project appreciates having been invited to develop a unique collaboration to inform voters, our long-standing relationships with our existing organizational and media partners, among other factors, precluded our participation in this event.”

Blakely said she had never heard of a joint Tea Party/Citizens Project debate.

“The debate Mitch Christiansen has been discussing is sponsored by the Tea Party and Americans for Prosperity and is clearly a partisan event put on by Christiansen, who has endorsed Bach, and two supporters of our opponent,” Blakely said, also in an email.

“We will not attend this event,” she said.

“We had committed to a Citizens Project debate, sponsored by Citizens Project, KRDO and The Independent that was supposed to be held this weekend and was cancelled due to Bach saying he was unable to attend,” Blakely added. “It looks like the Citizens Project debate may be rescheduled for May 5, and we’ve indicated to Kristi Milligan that we will be able to attend.”

In a brief interview, Christiansen said he didn’t want to talk about it.

“I’ve had enough of it on there,” he said, apparently referring to email communication, “so no comment.”

Posted in: Elections • • • • • • | 8 Comments »

Mayoral candidates have spent more than $500,000 on the campaign trail

March 8th, 2011, 9:26 am by

The battle to become Colorado Springs’ first strong mayor is proving to be a costly competition.

Altogether, the nine mayoral hopefuls have spent at least $537,000 in campaign-related expenses, according to reports filed Monday with the City Clerk’s Office.

Most of the money has been spent on advertising, political consultants, yard signs and mailers.

But other expenses include liquor for fund-raisers, pizza for volunteers and gas to get around the campaign trail.

Homebuilder Brian Bahr, who gave his campaign $100,000 plus a $100,000 loan, is leading the pack with nearly $174,000 in expenditures since August.

Bahr, president of Challenger Homes, still has nearly $58,000 cash on hand.

Steve Bach, a commercial real estate broker, has burned through nearly $119,000.

Bach has about $38,000 left in the bank.

Retired businessman Dave Munger, president of the Council of Neighbors and Organizations, has racked up nearly $104,000 in expenses – including about $65,000 on a slew of advertising in recent weeks.

Munger, who lent his campaign $67,660, is running on empty.

Although fundraising efforts continue, Munger has only about $6,500 cash on hand.

Businessman Richard Skorman, a former councilman, had spent nearly $88,000 as of Feb. 23.

Skorman’s latest campaign report has not been posted on the city’s website.

Skorman’s campaign spokeswoman, Camille Blakely, said the report was turned in about 4:45 p.m. Monday and that Deputy City Clerk Cindy Conway “said it wouldn’t be scanned until this afternoon.”

When asked whether she could send the report via e-mail, Blakely hesitated but then said she would try.

Defense contractor Buddy Gilmore has spent nearly $45,000. Gilmore is almost entirely funding his own campaign.

With about $75,500 left in the bank, Gilmore could launch a massive effort to reach voters as ballots start to arrive in the mail.

The four other candidates, including Councilman Tom Gallagher, are in a different class when it comes to campaign spending.

The four, who have raised little – if any – money, have spent about $8,500 altogether.

Posted in: Elections • • • • • • • • • • • | 10 Comments »

Skorman paid polling firm $17,500 to gauge voter attitudes, electability

February 1st, 2011, 4:47 pm by

Mayoral candidate Richard Skorman is raising a lot of money.

But he’s spending it fast, too.

In January, he racked up more than $38,000 in expenses.

Nearly half, or $17,500, went toward two separate polls to gauge what voters have on their minds as well as who they would vote for if the election was held that particular day.

“We’ve done two polls and that really helps us know what issues are the most important to talk about,” campaign spokeswoman Camille Blakely said today.

“That really helps us formulate the platform and the messaging,” she said.

Mayoral and City Council candidates must submit reports of campaign contributions and expenditures to the City Clerk’s Office on a regular basis. The next deadline is Feb. 7.

However, Skorman’s campaign sent out a news release today trying to get publicity for collecting nearly $101,000 in contributions just in January, prompting The Gazette to request a detailed summary of both contributions and expenditures.

According to documents provided by Skorman’s campaign:

On Jan. 18, Skorman forked over $6,500 to Luce Research for polling. On Jan. 26, he paid the Springs-based polling firm an additional $11,000 for more polling.

Among the questions respondents were asked was who they would pick for mayor if the election was held on the day the poll was conducted, Blakely said.

Blakely said the campaign manager, who is in a meeting, would have to authorize releasing the results of that question.

“I don’t mean to be evasive. I know that it’s something we’ve kept very quiet,” she said.

Among Skorman’s other big expenses in January:

$5,457.55 was paid to political consultant Bob Schaeffer on Jan. 11 for consulting services.

$3,000 was paid to 3PG Consulting, LLC on Jan. 12, also for consulting services.

$3,927 was paid to Precision Signz and Banners on Jan. 14 for yard signs.

Posted in: Elections • • • • | 2 Comments »

Skorman campaign ‘just blown away’ by number of contributors

February 1st, 2011, 1:22 pm by

While two mayoral candidates have dropped at least $100,000 of their own money into their campaigns, Richard Skorman collected almost that much just from donors in January alone.

“We’ve been just blown away,” campaign spokeswoman Camille Blakely said today.

The $100,691 that Skorman raised in January came from 541 contributors.

Since Dec. 27, Skorman has raised $128,194 from 617 contributors

“When he ran for council years ago, this is how he did it. He had a lot of small donations, but that really helps when you’re looking at this kind of big campaign,” Blakely said.

“We’re thrilled at the broad support,” she added. “Having this many contributions from such a diverse group and wide range of people, it just makes us really excited about the amount of support he’s getting and how many people are excited about him running.”

Skorman is spending his own money, too, but not at the same level as two of his competitors: Brian Bahr and Buddy Gilmore, who lent their campaigns at least $100,000 each.

So far, Skorman has lent his campaign $10,000.

It’s unclear how much money Skorman spent in January and how much cash he has on hand because the campaign sent a news release that only highlights the campaign contributions. Blakely said she would provide that information later.

Posted in: Elections • • | 3 Comments »