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.
