Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised in the primary contests for two open El Paso County commissioner races.
The biggest spender so far has been District 5 incumbent Lauren Nelson, who won the seat last year in a vacancy election. District 5 encompasses central Colorado Springs.
In her latest campaign filing submitted June 4, Nelson raised $62,000 since October. Her largest single campaign donor is Blue Line Advocates, a small donor committee that contributed $7,200.
Small donor committees can pool donations under $50. According to committee documents, Blue Line Advocates supports “candidates on the local, county and state level that support law enforcement.”
Nelson’s campaign received $7,400 in contributions from individuals associated with Vantage Homes, builder of communities like Sterling, Flying Horse North and Percheron. Other notable developer contributions include $2,850 from Norwood founder David Jenkins and $2,500 from JW Roth, CEO of VENU and developer of the Ford Amphitheater.
Nelson’s competitor in the primary race, former county GOP chair Vickie Tonkins, has raised $21,000 over the same filing period. Her contributions include $1,200 from Raymond Garcia, chair of the Colorado Hispanic Republicans and a candidate for El Paso County assessor. Other donors include state Rep. Ken DeGraaf and Linda Bottoms, a Church at Briargate pastor and the wife of Scott Bottoms, a Republican candidate for governor.
Of the two candidates in the Democratic primary for District 5, former Colorado Springs City Councilmember Yolanda Avila is the biggest fundraiser. Her campaign received $38,000 in contributions in the June 4 filing. Her contributors include Colorado Springs City Councilmember Nancy Henjum and two Democratic state senators — Tony Exum and Marc Snyder.
Community organizer Christian Seale raised about $2,000 in the same filing for his campaign and $20,000 to date.
In District 1, two candidates are vying for the Republican nomination to replace outgoing Commissioner Holly Williams. District 1 includes north-central El Paso County.
Ryan Graham raised $26,000 in his latest filing, with $31,000 more on hand. Like Nelson, he received money from Blue Line Advocates. Donors associated with Vantage Homes contributed $6,400 to his campaign in the latest filing records. Other notable donors include 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen and Chuck Broerman, the El Paso County treasurer.
Graham’s opponent is Lindsay Moore, who has raised $11,000. Among her donors is the Colorado Springs Republican Patriots SDC, which supports conservative Republican candidates.
The primary election is Tuesday. To find ballot drop boxes or in-person voter locations, visit the El Paso County clerk and recorder’s website.