Republican incumbents are leading the fundraising race for the Aurora City Council election, which now has a pool of 17 candidates for five seats.

City Council seats up for election are Wards I, II and II and two at-large. A majority of the candidates are running for Ward I and the two at-large seats.

Incumbent Danielle Jurinsky, who is running to keep her at-large seat, has raised over four times the amount of the next highest fundraising candidate.  Jurinsky’s campaign has a total of almost $185,000 in contributions, according to Aurora’s campaign finance system.

Jurinsky’s campaign has had a total of 486 contributions, 107 of which were the full possible amount of $1,150.

In 2023, the Aurora City Clerk’s Office adjusted the limits for campaign finance contributions, capping contributions at $450 for ward races and at $1,150 for at-large or mayoral races.

Jurinsky’s contributors included multiple employees of Brannan Sand and Gravel, an asphalt mixing plant, that added up to over $9,000. Westside Investment Partners employees contributed a total of almost $6,000. Employees of public relations firm 76 Group, including former councilmember Dustin Zvonek, contributed a total of over $4,500.

Another almost $29,000 in contributions came from 188 people who listed themselves as “retired.” More than a dozen employees of bars owned by Jurinsky gave a total of over $850.

Current councilmembers Francoise Bergan, Curtis Gardner and Stephanie Hancock contributed to Jurisnky’s campaign as have council candidates Aaron Futrell and Marsha Berzins.

Other donors of note include Aurora Chamber of Commerce President Naomi Colwell, U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, John Fabbricatore, Aurora Highlands Principal and Director Carla Ferreira and Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly.

Incumbent Amsalu Kassaw, who is also running to keep his at-large seat, has raised almost $45,000 for his campaign.

Ward II incumbent Steve Sundberg has raised almost $40,000.

Three new candidates have joined the race since The Denver Gazette’s most recent update. Javier Chavez and Joseph Willett are both running for Ward I, which has seven candidates. Jorge Hernandez is running for an at-large seat. None of the three appear to have active campaign websites yet.

Ward I

Current Ward I Councilmember Crystal Murillo has not filed a campaign to retain her seat and has not responded to The Denver Gazette’s inquiry about her future on the council.

Seven candidates have filed campaign documents to run for Murillo’s seat, including Chavez, Willett, Pastor Reid Hettich, product development manager and former Denver city planner Stephen Elkins, State of Colorado coordinator Gianina Horton, Christopher Belila and Leandra Steed.

Hettich has raised the most money for his campaign, with over $16,500 in contributions as of Monday. Horton has raised just over $5,000, Elkins has raised over $3,000, Steed has raised almost $3,000 and Belila has raised $100. The others have not reported campaign contributions.

Ward II

Two candidates are vying for Ward II, including incumbent Steve Sundberg and United Healthcare Business Development Director Amy Wiles. Former candidate Gayla Charrier removed her campaign from the system.

Sundberg has raised almost $38,500 and Wiles has raised just over $2,700.

Ward III

Two candidates, incumbent Ruben Medina and former Councilmember Marsha Berzins, are running for the seat.

Berzins has raised over $18,000 for her campaign and Medina has raised $300.

At-large

At-large positions are currently held by Councilmembers Jurinsky, Alison Coombs, Curtis Gardner and Amsalu Kassaw — who replaced former member Dustin Zvonek late last year when Zvonek resigned. Kassaw is serving the remainder of Zvonek’s term.

Two at-large seats, held by Jurinsky and Kassaw, are up for election in November. Both have announced campaigns for re-election.

Former mayoral candidate and One Voice Coalition’s Rob Andrews, U.S. Postal Service clerk Aaron Futrell, social worker Alli Jackson and Jorge Hernandez, who does not appear to have an active campaign website yet, are also in the running.

Jurinsky has raised almost $185,000, Kassaw has raised almost $45,000, Andrews has raised almost $21,000, Jackson has raised over $2,000, and Futrell has raised $75. Hernandez has not reported any financial contributions.