June Committee Financials

The Secretary of State recently released candidate financial info for the June 2nd reporting period. Here's a rundown.

Scott Helman, who is running against Rep. Jim Riesberg, has reported his numbers. He managed to raise $1,540 since February. Not bad for a Republican lamb being set up for slaughter. It's also worth noting that he's taking donations from anyone who will donate. Only $600 of his $1,540 came from inside the district. Mostly, he's funding his campaign by relying on the usual angry crowd: Pam Groeger (who tried to cheat at underhanded politics in 2004, and likely cost the Republicans the House 50 seat), Maria Secrest, Undersheriff Margie Martinez, Bill Jerke, Joe Tennessen (who despite his nice demeanor funds a lot of the hate-filled candidates in Weld County), former House 50 also-ran Dave Owen, and Sheriff John Cook. It's nice to see that this guy doesn't really have the wide appeal or name ID of a (defeated) candidate like Dave Owen.

Glenn Vaad is doing pretty well, after raising $9,694.19 since winning his House 48 seat in November 2006. Notably, he's taken over half ($5,455) of his donations from large PAC, and only $3,139 from people in his district (included in this is $989.19 of his own money). I suppose that "local" contribution number is in line with Helman's, demonstrating just how in touch with their constituents these Republicans are. It's also striking the amount of influence land developers, power and oil/gas companies, and chiropractors seem to love Rep. Vaad. Maybe that bears more investigation?

More's coming soon...