Sheriff candidates raised, spent $80K in bids for office
The general election cost Sheriff Aaron Appelhans and challenger Joel Senior $20K, capping off the year’s priciest electoral contest.
Albany County’s most expensive race was that for the sheriff’s office.
Democratic Sheriff Aaron Appelhans won the election and will keep the seat he was appointed to in late 2020. He beat Republican challenger Joel Senior in the general election by 500 votes.
Appelhans and Senior together raised more than $15,000 and spent more than $20,000 in the general election alone.
All told, the five original candidates for sheriff raised almost $82,000 and spent more than $79,000 between the primary and general elections. Almost all of that money was raised and spent by Appelhans, Senior or Republican primary candidate Rafael Delgadillo — who bankrolled his own unsuccessful campaign to the tune of $35,000.
Despite his failure to reach the general election, Delgadillo remained the race’s largest spender by a wide margin. He raised a total of $40,445 during his primary campaign. Appelhans and Senior, between the primary and general, together raised just $39,850.
The race for sheriff was one of Albany County’s most hotly contested races. Appelhans and Senior sparred during a debate at the University of Wyoming in late October and campaign signs were visible throughout the county.
Candidates spent more than $10,700 on yard signs and the materials to put them up — that figure doesn’t include banners or the $6,700 Delgadillo alone spent on billboards.
Both Appelhans and Senior were primarily funded by individual contributions. Appelhans used more than $4,200 of his own money, while Senior accepted more than $2,000 in anonymous donations.
Primary campaign contributions and expenditures were examined in an earlier story. Below is a breakdown of total election fundraising and spending by Appelhans and Senior.
Joel Senior (Republican)
Raised: $23,788
Spent: $21,753.26
Average Donation: $300.24
Own Money: $1,070
Contribution Breakdown:
$2,020 — Anonymous
$18,608 — Individual
$1,070 — Self/Family
$1,590 — In-Kind Contributions
$500 — Political Party
Top Donors:
$3,000 — Norbert Kriebel, Laramie resident
$2,500 — Luisa Rios, Texas resident
$1,500 — Emil and Natalia Lotyanu, Buford residents
$1,500 — Candy Hamaker, Centennial resident
$1,050 — Rich Avery, Albany County resident
$1,000 — JD Hamaker, Centennial resident
$1,000 — Anonymous
$1,000 — Anonymous
$500 — Mark Carducci, a Laramie-based Oath Keeper
$500 — Shane and Nicole Swett, Laramie residents
$500 — Duane Toro, Laramie resident
$500 — Amy Terrell, Albany County resident
$500 — Jo Kimzy, Albany County resident
$500 — Tim McKinney, Laramie resident
Aaron Appelhans (Democrat)
Raised: $16,062.48
Spent: $15,873.06
Average Donation: $89.68
Own Money: $4,225
Contribution Breakdown:
$11,624.37 — Individual
$4,225 — Self/Family
$500 — Political Party
$213.11 — In-Kind
Top Donors:
$515.38 — Ken Gerow, Laramie resident
$500 — Frances Price, Laramie resident
$350 — Donal O’Toole, Laramie resident
$257.94 — Jerad Stack, Casper resident
$250 — Mary Beth Galvan, Laramie resident
$250 — Charles Ksir, Laramie resident
$250 — Cassandra Kvenlid, Laramie resident
$250 — Roy Jacobson, Laramie resident
$213.11 — Sarah Gorin, Laramie resident
$200 — Megan Hayes, Laramie resident
$200 — Virginia Vincenti, Laramie resident
$200 — Julie Butscher, Colorado resident
$200 — Sue Ibarra, Albany County Commissioner
$200 — Angela Schrader, Casper resident
$200 — Pilar Flores, Laramie resident
$200 — Claire Angele, Laramie resident