Aspenites for Action outraises opponent after first campaign finance reports

The first round of finance reports from two issues committees funding campaigns for two entrance to Aspen referendums show one committee raised nearly $30,000 more than the other and spent over double the money.

Aspenites for Action, the issues committee supporting Referendum 2, raised $71,511 between Dec. 24 and Feb. 10. Finance reports were due to the Aspen city clerk’s office on Feb. 11. 

Referendum 2 asks voters to allow the Colorado Department of Transportation to use portions of the Marolt and Thomas open spaces identified in a 1998 record of decision or any future record of decisions for new highway alignments. 

Aspenites for Action registered as a nonprofit corporation with the state, according to Colorado secretary of state filings. 

According to a fundraising email reviewed by Aspen Daily News, an anonymous donor is matching any contributions made to Aspenites for Action between $10,000 and $100,000 until Feb. 15. One donor, Glenda Greenwald, contributed $10,000 during the first reporting period. Two donors made contributions of $20,000 or more — Bruce Etkin donated $25,000 and Robert Rubey donated $20,000, both of whom are part of the issues committee.  

“Fundraising is very important because it’s a very complex issue, and there is a ton of misinformation swirling around in the community,” Rachel Brenneman, spokesperson for Aspenites for Action, said. “So it’s really important for us to get the money needed to communicate directly with voters and help them understand what Referendum 2 is all about, and the potential consequences and downfalls of Referendum 1. Forty-seven local donors really shows us that people are hungry for action and movement around the entrance to Aspen, and Referendum 2 does that.”

Aspenites for Action received 47 individual donations during the first reporting period and spent $46,953.47. A majority of the committee’s spending went toward communications and research, digital advertising and consulting. It spent $17,500 on general campaign consulting with Washington D.C.-based Hilltop Public Solutions. Brenneman said the consultant working with Aspenites for Action is based in Edwards.

Our Parks Our Open Space, the issues committee supporting Referendum 1, raised $44,360 during the first reporting period and spent $28,999.76. It received 18 individual donations. The issues committee spent most of its funds, $24,668, on various communication expenses.

“We have relied on person-to-person contacts in the form of meet and greets in people’s homes, which are obviously time-intensive, but they’re not money-intensive,” said Neil Siegel, a member of Our Parks Our Open Space. “(Our campaign) is being very tightly budgeted, there’s no doubt about it, because we don’t have the funds that (Aspenites for Action) have been able to raise.”

Referendum 1 asks voters to amend the Aspen home rule charter by increasing the voter threshold required to change the use of city-owned parks and open space from a simple majority to 60%. 

Mayoral candidate Katy Frisch has outfundraised Rachel Richards by almost $20,000. During the first reporting period, Frisch raised $29,143.50 from individual donors. The home rule charter limits campaign contributions to candidates to $250. A majority of Frisch’s donors contributed $250. Current City Councilmen Sam Rose and Bill Guth donated $50 and $250, respectively.

Frisch spent $17,268.49 on marketing, merchandise and yard signs, Aspen Daily News and Aspen Times advertisements, and campaign consulting. 

“I expect it to be an extremely close election, so it’s important to get your message out,” Frisch said. “(Richards) has 30 years of experience, people know her more than they know me, so, in some senses, has an incumbent status just because she’s been mayor before, she’s been on city council before, she’s been county commissioner, which puts me at a disadvantage from a name-recognition perspective.

“If you want to get your name out there, you need to spend some money, and if you want to spend some money you’ve got to raise some money,” she added.

Richards raised $12,304.47 in the first reporting period, including a donation from current City Councilman Ward Hauenstein. Hauenstein is finishing his final term on city council, and is part of Aspenites for Action alongside Richards. 

She spent $9,014.89 during the first period largely on graphic design, postage and printing and flyers.

Richards could not be reached by time of publication.

In the six-person city-council race, first-time candidate Emily Kolbe raised $8,586 — the most out of each candidate. First-time candidate Christine Benedetti raised $4,355 and incumbent John Doyle raised $4,170 for his reelection campaign. 

Tyler Wilkinson-Ray raised $790 during the first reporting period. Scot Woolley raised $550.

Torre, who is term-limited in his mayoral seat and running for city council, raised $145.94 during the first reporting period. 

The city began mailing ballots to eligible voters on Tuesday. Residents can vote by mail, in person or by dropping off their ballot in the drop box located outside of City Hall at 427 Rio Grande Place.

City council candidates must earn 45% of votes cast, plus one, to win a seat. The mayoral candidate must earn 50% of votes cast plus one. If those thresholds are not met, a runoff election will occur on April 1.

People can register to vote up until Election Day at the Pitkin County clerk’s office or online at govotecolorado.com. 

Mail-in ballots must be received by Election Day. Ballots are not accepted at the Pitkin County ballot box located on Main Street. Ballots dropped off at the incorrect ballot box may not be counted.

In-person voting at City Hall will be available from Feb. 18 to March 3 at the city clerk’s office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Note: Christine Benedetti is married to Aspen Daily News Publisher David Cook.