Election 2008

County Dems flush with cash
GOP collects less than a fifth of their opponents’ take

By Dale Rodebaugh
Herald Staff Writer

In the last year, the Democratic Party in La Plata County received five times as much in monetary contributions as its Republican counterpart.

Records with the Colorado secretary of state’s office also show individual contributions figured prominently in donations to both parties, but the Democrats received support from the state organizers while local Republicans received none.

“That’s been the trend in the last two election cycles, 2006 and 2008,” said Ron Tate, the chairman of the county Republican Party. “Money has been tight, and we’re a small area, so the money has been going to larger areas.”

From Oct. 28, 2007 to Oct. 26, 2008, the La Plata County Democratic Party Central Committee received $60,784, according to the secretary of state. In the same period, the La Plata County Republican Party Central Committee received $11,938.

Numerous small contributions characterized the Democratic effort, said Jean Walter, the chairwoman of the county Democratic Party.

“It was amazing how people chipped in,” Walter said. “We got a ton of small donations because people wanted to be part of the effort. That’s the way they want our government to look.”

All contributions to Republicans in La Plata County came from individuals, including a resident of Oklahoma City. Nothing was received from the state Republican organization. Donations ranged from $500 from a Durango couple to one period in which the party received no contributions. In one reporting period, donations of less than $20 totaled $5,375 of a total of $9,105; in another period, almost $1,400 was received in donations of fewer than $20 out of a total of $1,667.

The Democratic Party’s top contributors in La Plata County were individuals, but most gave more than $20 each. The other main contributors to the Democratic cause were the La Plata County and the state Democratic Party, but they provided less than $7,500 of the almost $61,000 the party received. The Montezuma County Democratic Party Central Committee, a Cortez woman, and a man from Glenwood Springs also donated to La Plata County Democrats.

Over all, 444 individuals or party organizations contributed $20 or more to the Democratic campaign. The Republican campaign received $20 or more from 57 individuals.

daler@durangoherald.com