Brighter Futures Lakewood is an Independent Expenditure Committee (IEC) registered in Lakewood to advocate for Ken Cruz and Bill Furman for Lakewood City Council. According to committee reports, the IEC registered March 11, just two weeks before the election.
See their website at https://brightcoloradofutures.com/
Brighter Futures filed two special reports for expenditures over $500. Both expenditures were for Google ads, totaling $8,000.
Smaller contributions and expenditures would be reported on the regular report, which was due Friday, for spending 2/22-3/15. That report has an incorrect link that has been reported to the city and should be corrected 3/24 for transparency.
The incorrect link was noted on nextdoor.com by Natalie Menten, who points out “IECs are used to reduce transparency and create layers in campaign finance. Also, used to exceed the limited campaign $$ donation rules dictating how much a candidate can take directly. With 48-hours left before the ballot boxes close, there could be some larger spending coming up.”
Additionally, Ken Cruz has raised about $10,000 so far and Bill Furman has raised about $6,000. The candidate with the next highest contribution value is Pete Roybal at about $1,200. Candidates Patrick Flaherty, Desiree Gonzales, Nicholas Munden and Diane Rhodes, have smaller contributions, if any.
If Lakewood elections go to the highest spenders, Cruz and Furman will be the next City Councilors.
The media company Brighter Futures used is Kabza, which claims to be for “designing Democratic victories”. This company was used by Democrats throughout the state, including local US Rep. Brittany Pettersen, Colorado Rep. Rebekah Stewart, Jeffco Commissioner Tracey Kraft-Tharp and three Jeffco School Board Members. This is not direct party support but shows the Democrat machine has chosen their candidates, even though City Council is technically non-partisan.
Notice for city that this is not an endorsement of any candidate nor authorized by any candidate or committee. Paid for by the Lakewood Informer although this communication did not cost anything extra but someone will ask.