Understanding campaign contributions

The cost to run an election campaign is no small potatoes. The average senatorial candidate spent $7.4 million in 2000, according to The Campaign Finance Institute’s Web site.While candidates from Colorado may not spend the average, they raise plenty to cover their costs. Bill Ritter, democratic candidate for governor, spent nearly $38,000 on research and polling alone, according to his August list of expenditures. Other expenses included legal fees, office space and supplies and mailings and postage, to name a few.There are constitutional guidelines and plenty of regulations governing donations to candidates. And there are severe penalties if a candidate does not adhere to the rules.The following is a sample of donations received by five candidates running for office in Colorado. These candidates were randomly selected. The NFH tried to list as many corporate donations as were available.Bill Ritter, Democrat for governorReporting period April 1 – April 25, 2006, filed on May 3; 598 donors for funds on hand that totaled $727,559.72 at the beginning of the period;; funds on hand at the end of the reporting period: $710,056.51$5,000 donations

• Colorado State of Conf. Electrical Workers – Colorado Springs (two donations)
• Service Employees International Local 105 – Denver

$500 donations

• 166 individual donors

LLP or LLC or other business contributions

• Harebell Circle LLC – Denver, Colo. – $100.00
• Chase Strategies LLC – Englewood, Colo. – two contributions at $500.00 each

Bob Beauprez, Republican for governorReporting period April 1 – April 25, 2006 filed on May 3; 415 donors for funds on hand at the beginning of the reporting period: $896,621.00; funds on hand at end of reporting period: $834,451.17$1,000 donations

• three individual donors

$500 donations

• 99 donors

LLP or LLC or other business contributions

• Caribou Ranch – Boulder, Colo. – $150.00
• Redline Holdings – Denver, Colo. – $250; $500
• Colorado Orthopedic- Aurora, Colo. – $250; $500
• Mastin & Budman, LLC – Denver, Colo. – $250; $500
• BCX Development, LLC – Englewood, Colo. – $500
• MGI Investments, LLC – Castle Rock, Colo. – two donations at $500 each
• Faegre & Benson Government Fund, LLP – Minneapolis, Minn. – two donations at $500 each
• Axxess Connect, LLC – Denver, Colo. – $500
• Primetime Communications, Centennial, Colo. – two donations at $500 each
• Canterberry Development, Co., LLC – Englewood, Colo. – two donations at $500 each
• Meadow Vale Investments – Colorado – two donations at $500 each
• Running Creek Investments – Englewood, Colo. – two donations at $500 each
• The Geo Group, LLC – Boca Raton, FL – two donations at $500 each
• 96th Ave. Investment Partners – Colorado – two donations at $500 each
• Dunes Investment Partners – Castle Rock, Colo. – two donations at $500 each
• Colorado Pain & Rehab Professionals, LLC – Wheatridge, Colo. – two donations at $500 each
• Rocky Mountain Surgery Center – Englewood, Colo. – two donations at $500 each

Doug Lamborn, Republican for Congressional District 5Reporting period January 1- March 31, 2006, filed on April 17; 13 donors for funds on hand at the beginning of the reporting period: $4,123.82; funds on hand at the end of the reporting period: $44.19$250 donations

• American Legislative Exchange Council – Washington, D.C.LLP or LLC or other business contributions
• American Legislative Exchange Council – Washington, D.C.

Marsha Looper, Republican for House District 19Reporting period May 27 – June 28, 2006, filed on June 30;; 52 donors for funds on hand at the beginning of the reporting period: $63.94; funds on hand at the end of the reporting period: $2,203.58

• $10,000 donations
• Marsha Looper

$400 donations

• one LLC donor

$200 donations

• three individual donors$100 donations
• three individual donors

LLP or LLC or other business contributions

• Colorado Private School Association – Denver, Colo. – $400.00

Ken Barela, Democrat for House District 19Reporting period April 26 – May 26, 2006, filed on June 2; 17 donors for funds on hand at the beginning of the reporting period: $839.20; funds on hand at the end of the reporting period: $2822.20$350 donations

• one individual donor

$250 donations

• one individual donor

$150 donations

• one individual donor

$100 donations

• seven individual donors

LLP or LLC or other business contributions

• Calli Property Services, LLC – Colorado Springs – $400.00
• Colorado Pride Realty – Colorado Springs – $204.90

Campaign contributions are a matter of public record. Information for the above candidates’ campaign contributions were taken from the Colorado Secretary of State Web site – www.elections.colorado.gov