Lakewood Watchdog
Special Interest Donors to Michael Gifford campaign
Development-Related Special Interest Donations
Note - Maximum legal contribution is $2,500
Realtor PAC
Krya DeGruy (Ward 1) $2,500
Charles Davis (Ward 2) $2,500
Michael Gifford (Ward 3) $2,500
LaDawn Sperling (Ward 4) $2,500
Karen Harrison (Ward 5) $2,500
Leadership Lakewood $11,000 *
TOTAL $23,500
* Leadership Lakewood - an "independent expenditure" committee designed to funnel "dark money" (unknown donors) to Gifford, Sperling and Harrison.
Home Builders Association
(dba Metro Housing Coalition)
Krya DeGruy (Ward 1) $2,500
Michael Gifford (Ward 3) $2,500
LaDawn Sperling (Ward 4) $2,500
Karen Harrison (Ward 5) $2,500
Metro Apartments Association
Krya DeGruy (Ward 1) $600
Michael Gifford (Ward 3) $1,000
CRL Associates (Developers' Lobbyists)
Krya DeGruy (Ward 1) $500
Michael Gifford (Ward 3) $500
2017 City Council Elections
2017 City Council Elections
Development Related Special Interest Contributions Way Up
Fundraising for Lakewood City Council races reached a new high with a flood of development-related special interest money to Ward 3 candidate Michael Gifford.
The previous record was held by former State Senate President Betty Boyd in a failed run for the Ward 4 seat against David Wiechman. In her 2013 race, Boyd raised over $20,000.
2017 City Council Elections
Johnson Eligible to Run for Council in 2017
The next city election in November 2017 will see two open seats (Ward 2 - current Scott Koop and Ward 4 - current David Wiechman), and two incumbents (Ward 3 - Shakti and Ward 5 - Karen Harrison). The fifth race will be Ward 1. The seat is currently held by Ramey Johnson, the Mayor Pro-tem, who ran for mayor in 2015. There is a question as to whether Mrs. Johnson can run for another term in 2017. The City Charter establishes a term limit on elected officials of two terms. In Mrs. Johnson's case she will have served one full term (2013 - 2017) and a partial term (2011 - 2013). The question is whether the partial term counts as a full term. A review of Colorado court cases finds a partial term must be evaluated in terms of how many days the official actually served. In Mrs. Johnson's case her partial term was two days short of a full two years. Thus she does NOT satisfy the requirement of serving "at least half a term" which would kick in the two term limit.
2017 City Council Elections