The ballots are in the mail, and the money is in the bank.
Doug Clark and Nancy Doty both met the June 5 deadline to report their campaign contributions thus far to the state. The two Republicans are vying to be the party’s nominee for Arapahoe County commissioner in District 1, the seat Susan Beckman is term-limited out of.
Doty came in ahead, reporting $25,216.87 from a total of 141 people and 149 contributions.
Clark reported $16,080 coming from 59 donations made by 50 people.
Major contributors to Clark’s campaign include his wife, Cathy ($7,322.65), Clint Wood with Farmers Insurance ($3,500), Parris Farr of Massachusetts ($700), Arlene Clark of Phoenix ($500), former city manager Jim Woods ($500), and Libertarian and founding Sunshine Boy member Frank Atwood ($500).
Atwood, a vocal proponent of “approval voting,” gave Doty $100, as well. Approval voting is a process by which voters can rank candidates instead of voting for just one.
Notable folks donating less than $500 to Clark include Carol Brzeczek, Matt Grogan, Paul Bingham, David Schwan, Hugh Hilleary, Joseph Trujillo and Gary Sutton.
Doty’s big supporters include Carole McVaney ($2,000); developer Stephen Tebo ($1,000); Eugene Hogan ($1,000); Ray Kinnard, a senior vice president at Merrill Lynch ($1,000); investor Diane Smethills ($1,000); Eugene Hogan ($500); former Littleton city attorney Suzanne Staiert ($500); and the Littleton Firefighters Small Donor Committee ($500).
Other recognizable names include former Municipal Judge James Kimmel, John Andrews of the Centennial Institute, Frances Owens, Broncos CEO Pat Bowlen, Greenwood Village City Councilor Ron Rakowsky and State Rep. David Balmer.
Ballots started going out Monday and should be landing in mailboxes now. They must be mailed back in time to arrive by June 26. The candidates’ next financial report is due four days before that, on June 22.
No Democrat is listed as a candidate for District 1 commissioner.
Frank Atwood posted at 6:52 pm on Sun, Jun 17, 2012.
Jennifer, Thanks for your kind words. However, Approval Voting is letting the voter cast votes for more than one candidate, not ranking them.
Currently, voters can cast as many votes as there are open seats. Recent at-large Littleton and SSP&R elections, where we've been able to vote for two out of three candidates, have been Approval Voting elections for all intents and purposes. I'm advocating for the voters to be able to use Approval Vote in all municipal and county elections.
During the 2007 Centennial Charter Commission election, voters could vote for 21 of 35 candidates. Our election systems can handle Approval Voting. If you've ever wanted to cast an "Anybody but ..." vote, then Approval Voting gives you that opportunity. Vote for everyone except the candidate you don't want. Please see the ApprovalVotingUSA.org web site and Google "Approval Voting".
Major parties will have fewer spoilers and less sabotage; minor parties may earn visibility and viability. The voter will have the opportunity to express himself with pragmatic honesty. The candidates will have better feed back from the election.
I welcome calls, 720/260-1493. Thanks, Frank