The Money Trail
Who's paying for Loveland's cruel policies—and what are they buying?
Dark Money PAC Spending
A single dark money group—Advancing Northern Colorado—spent nearly $200,000 over two election cycles to elect candidates who would vote to close shelters and criminalize homelessness. The group doesn't disclose its donors.
| PAC Name | 2021 Spending | 2023 Spending | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advancing Northern Colorado | ~$113,000 | ~$84,000 | ~$197,000 |
Source: Colorado Sun (2021), community-compiled campaign finance data (2023)[1]
"A nonprofit called Advancing Northern Colorado spent nearly $114,000 supporting three Republican-backed candidates in city contests."
— Colorado Sun, November 2021What Did This Money Buy?
- Ordinance 6806 — Removed requirement that shelter beds be available before ticketing
- Shelter Closures — South Railroad Facility closed, LRC overnight services ending
- Task Force Dissolution — Homelessness Task Force dissolved after shelter proposal rejected
- Mayor Marsh Censure — Former mayor condemned for helping unhoused during storm
Non-Resident Campaign Contributions
The candidates who vote for enforcement receive dramatically more funding from outside Loveland than those who oppose them. Why would non-residents care about Loveland's homeless policy? Follow the development interests.
| Candidate | Non-Resident % | Voting Bloc |
|---|---|---|
| Zeke Cortez | 57% | "Law and Order" 5 |
| Don Overcash (former) | 41% | Pro-enforcement |
| Andrea Samson | 43% | Law and Order 5 |
| John Fogle (former) | 28% | Pro-enforcement |
| Jacki Marsh (former mayor) | 6% | Opposition |
| Laura Light-Kovacs | 6% | Opposition 4 |
Source: Community-compiled campaign finance data from official filings[2]
⚠️ Note on Andrea Samson
The McWhinney Connection
McWhinney is one of Colorado's largest developers, responsible for Centerra—the massive mixed-use development that transformed Loveland. Their interests align with clearing encampments and making the city "business-friendly."
What We Know
- Troy & Lori McWhinney identified as top donors to conservative council candidates (2019)
- Centerra South: $155M tax increment financing (TIF) deal approved by pro-development council
- After 2023 election, new council rescinded the deal
- McWhinney sued city for breach of contract ($10M already spent)
What We Don't Know
- Direct financial link between McWhinney entities and Advancing Northern Colorado PAC
- Who funds the dark money PAC (donors not disclosed)
- Internal communications between developers and council members
These gaps require CORA requests or state-level PAC filings to resolve.
"Developer interests aligned with enforcement bloc—clearing encampments makes way for development, not by housing people, but by displacing them."
— AnalysisTextGate: The Corruption Exposed
In 2022, it was revealed that Mayor Pro Tem Don Overcash had been secretly texting city staff during council meetings—violating Colorado's Sunshine Law. When the city refused to release the messages, a judge compared their conduct to "banana republics."
"The city did not act in good faith... The court finds that the city's conduct was tantamount to that of banana republics."
— 8th Judicial District Court Judge, March 2022| What Happened | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Overcash texted Economic Development Director during meetings | Violated Colorado Sunshine Law |
| City refused to release texts under CORA request | Judge ruled city acted in bad faith |
| Overcash called constituents "clueless bunch of wanna bes" | Recall attempt launched (failed to qualify) |
| City ordered to pay costs and attorneys' fees | Taxpayers footed the bill |
Source: Reporter-Herald, Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition[3]
See Who's Voting How
The same people taking this money are voting to close shelters and criminalize homelessness.
Meet the Council