Justice center blitz set record

Supporters raised $685,000 to get their message out

April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 3, 2005 at midnight

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Backers of Denver's justice center raised a record $685,000 in campaign contributions to win voter support last month, according to post-election campaign finance reports filed Thursday.

Justice center opponents raised $1,265 during their campaign and collected in-kind contributions worth $76,000.

"The team got the job done," said Lynea Hanson, a pro-justice center campaign spokeswoman. "The money raised was necessary to get on television.

"But once the voters were presented with the facts, they made the decision that made the most sense."

Christie Donner, co-campaign manager for the opposition, said they knew at the onset of the campaign that they would be "outgunned."

"Absolutely, the money was critical," Donner said. "They were able to inundate people with the vote yes message."

The ballot measure to build the $378 million justice center downtown won 56 percent to 44 percent in the May 3 election.

Construction is expected to start next year.

Plans call for building a 1,500-bed jail and 35-room courthouse that spans two blocks west of the City and County Building.

The jail on Smith Road also will be renovated.

Since the election, justice center opponents have filed two complaints with the Denver Election Commission.

Denver Voters for Responsible Spending, a coalition of civil rights and government watchdog groups, is seeking an investigation into the amount of city resources that may have been "inappropriately" spent to persuade voters to approve the project.

Opponents are also seeking an investigation into a separate campaign committee they say proponents formed to promote the jail, but failed to disclose.

"We want to make sure all of the money collected and spent was appropriate and reported," said Rosella Gonzales, a member of the opposition who is spearheading the complaint.

"It's not sour grapes at all. It's a matter of campaigning within the confines of our laws and ordinances."

At the center of one of the complaints are jail tours conducted by the Denver Sheriff Department during the campaign to give people a glimpse of the overcrowded conditions at the Smith Road jail.

Opponents say the department's buses and personnel were used to carry out the tours. They say that's a violation of election law because the city is not supposed to use its resources to promote a ballot initiative.

Mayor John Hickenlooper's administration and justice center proponents insist the campaign to promote the project was conducted within the confines of city, state and federal campaign laws.

The jail tours are conducted on a routine basis.

"It's my understanding that the (jail) tours have been going on for at least the past 40 years," said City Attorney Cole Finegan.

The complaint included a request for city Auditor Dennis Gallagher to review how city resources may have been used.

Denis Berckefeldt, a spokesman for the auditor, said that request is under review but more information and facts are needed from the group to warrant a review.

The second complaint deals with a request Citizens for a Safe Denver - the group supporting the project - made to the Internal Revenue Service to get tax-exempt status for its campaign.

Opponents say that was an attempt to set up a separate committee to hide some campaign contributions.

Hanson said all funds raised were reported and accounted for in accordance with campaign finance laws.

She said the request for tax-exempt status is common for campaigns that collect more than $25,000 in contributions.

The election commission is expected to hold a public hearing in July, when the three-member board will review the complaints.

"They'll come and present their evidence in which they are basing their complaint," said Karon Hatchett, executive director of the election commission.

Much of the money raised by justice center supporters was spent in a $250,000 TV ad campaign and direct mailings.

About $76,000 in campaign funds was collected between the end of April and May 27 - the most recent reporting report, Hanson said.

The total amount collected by supporters was a record for a city issue ballot measure.

By the numbers

The battle over the justice center proved to be no contest as proponents raised a record sum during the campaign this spring.

• According to campaign finance reports:

Opponents

Total raised $1,265

In-kind contributions $76,479.54

Cash on hand $399.75

Proponents

Total raised $684,550