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2025 City Council Candidates
Survey Response Summaries below.  Individual responses on each candidate page.

Check Back for Updates 

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Coming Soon!

Integrity Matters does not support endorsing candidates as we believe that practice is riddled with flaws, but we very much support identifying truths and raising red flags so voters can make fully informed decisions. Among those red flags are:  refusal to answer a survey known to be challenging, voting records, and developer and/or dark money donations.  We will flag all of those which we believe helps us all make the best choices possible.

Only half the candidates running responded to our survey.  They will still get a page with any information, in addition to running from tough questions, which could be helpful.  Like any product one buys, political candidates should come with warning labels which we provide.  This may be one of the most important purchases we collectively make.  We encourage everyone to use your social media, email and voices to help everyone stay informed and make good choices for us all.  

Check back for a summary of the campaign finances.  We believe there should be weekly reporting.  Email Sarah Johnson to let her know.  There's a lag in what is reported.  In addition to concerns we have about straw or pass through donations, which are illegal, the developers can and will come in late so the voters don't really see just how egregious their financial influence is.  We proposed an ordinance to limit campaign donations and force auto-recusal. for any land use decision with a developer or their employees/lobbyists giving more than $250.

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Campaign Finance Analysis - All Districts
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66%
86%
45%
71%
75%
34%
72%
12%
7%
16%
4%
6%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
% = Percent of donations that are developer/related
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DARK MONEY

Learn about the Dark

Money influencing this 

election.

Look for this warning sign.

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2025 Dark Money Committees 
There are 5 Dark Money Committees registered spending upwards of $300,000 each primarily in D1 & D3, from what we are hearing.  1 PAC from an agency in VA that is managing those campaigns and 2 with Katie Kennedy as the registered agent who is frequently affiliated with GOP PACs.  She was the registered agent for Colorado Springs Forward, a powerful local group that moved their address to the Towers of Power, 111 S Tejon Street, last year.  While it's a challenge for the general public to identify the puppet masters, you can bet that it isn't the local candy store pouring  money into this election for a $6,700 council seat.  We will know more when reports are filed.  Look for these names on the Direct Mail, Text Ads or Social Media/Online to identify them as Dark Money:

  1. American Jobs & Growth PAC - Alexandria, VA

  2. Colorado Springs Leadership P:roject - Denver, CO

  3. Protect Colorado Springs - Denver, CO

  4. Apple Orchard Leadership PAC - Colorado Springs registered by Classic Homes' Doug Stimple

  5. New Era Carlson - Denver, CO

If you received a Dark Money ad, take a pic and send it to us at: integritymatterscos@gmail.com Be sure to include the disclaimer showing who paid for it.  They come in handy down the road.  We collect them all.​

2025 Dark Money Ads:

Rick Gillit: www.realrickgillit.com 

Nancy Henjum: www.nancyrecord.com

Dave Donelson:

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Warning Labels:

There are 3 major PACs (also Dark Money in terms of who the individual donors are not the people or businesses behind the PACs) that wield influence in promoting developer candidates to public office.  The ongoing Colorado Springs PACs with the HBA, Housing & Building Association being the most powerful, are: 

  • The Housing & Building Association (HBA)

  • The Pikes Peak Association of Realtors (PPAR)

  • Apartment Association of Southern Colorado (AASC)

The HBA donates enormous sums with PPAR and AASC being smaller.​  Look for these labels.

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Endorsed Candidate

$10,000

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Endorsed Candidate

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Endorsed Candidate

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Dark Money Group on Donelson Direct Mail piece:  American Jobs and Growth PAC who reported $12,228 for direct mail and $5,000 for digital ads which was a text campaign to accompany the direct mail piece.  This group is registered in Alexandria, VA. 

Dark Money Group on Gillit Direct Mail piece:  Disclaimer says: "Protect Colorado Springs", but the only Dark Money Group that comes close that is registered is "Project Colorado Springs".  We will reach out to Sarah Johnson, the City Clerk and ask.  There are about 80,000 registered voters in D3.  Protect Colorado Springs has reported no expenditures as of 3/18/2025.  This group is registered in Denver with a Downtown COS bank.

 
The Dark Money PACs are multiplying like bunnies.  2 more join the party.
Integrity Matters Survey:  Total Responses Across All Candidates Who Responded
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Source:  COS City Clerk Sarah Johnson Campaign Finance Filings
Note:  No 3/5/2025 filing Available for Candidate Christopher Metzgar
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Source:  COS City Clerk Sarah Johnson Campaign Finance Filings
Note:  No 3/5/2025 filing Available for Candidate Christopher Metzgar

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Email: integritymatterscos@gmail.com

P. O. Box 60082

Colorado Springs, CO  80960

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