Money Talks: Longmont's City Council Race Heats Up with Big Donations

In the race for Longmont's City Council seats, money is flowing in fast. With just two weeks left before Election Day, candidates have raised over $70, 000. This cash comes from different places, like personal loans, gifts, and donations from individuals and groups. Susie Hidalgo-Fahring is leading the pack for mayor. She has raised over $11, 000, with most coming from individual donors. Shakeel Dalal and Sarah Levison are also in the running, with Dalal raising over $5, 000 and Levison bringing in over $8, 000, including a $3, 000 loan from herself. In Ward 2, Matthew Popkin and Teresa Simpkins are competing. Popkin has raised over $5, 000, with some coming from a loan. Simpkins has raised over $5, 000 as well, with a small donation from Hidalgo-Fahring. The at-large candidates show a mix of funding. Jake Marsing has raised over $5, 000 but has spent nearly $15, 000, mostly from his own pocket. Alex Kalkhofer has raised over $4, 000, with some coming from a loan and a donation from the Home Builders Association. Crystal Prieto, John Lembke, Riegan Sage, and Steve Altschuler have also raised varying amounts, mostly from individual donors. Most of the money comes from individual donors, with some contributions hitting the legal limit of $310. A few candidates have taken out loans or used their own money to fund their campaigns. This shows that in politics, personal connections and self-reliance can make a big difference.