People › State Board of Education
Karla Esser
Running in 2026: State Board of Education District 7 (June 30) · State Board of Education District 7 (November 3)
Colorado property
$1,649,823 at the county assessors' values, 2 parcels we matched to the property on their disclosures.
| Kind | County | Assessor's value |
|---|
| home | Jefferson | $1,122,023 |
| home | Larimer | $527,800 |
The county assessor's actual value (the 2025 reappraisal, an estimate of market value in mid-2024), from the state's parcel records. We match parcels by the owner's name where their office or race is, or by the legal description or address on their disclosure; we don't show addresses, parcel numbers or co-owners. Property held in a name we can't connect to them isn't here.
Personal Financial Disclosures
Income listed: up to $169,994 on their latest disclosure with entries: the top of each range they selected, added up (the form asks for ranges, not amounts; a range with no top counts at its figure).
| Statement | Filed | What it lists |
|---|
2026 Candidate
State Board of Education CD 7 | 2026-01-12 | 6 income sources, 1 assets, 4 colorado property, 1 offices and directorships |
2025 Candidate
State Board of Education CD 7 | 2025-07-25 | 6 income sources, 1 assets, 4 colorado property, 1 offices and directorships |
2025
State Board of Education CD 7 | 2025-01-09 | 6 income sources, 2 assets, 2 colorado property |
2024 update (amendment)
| 2024-01-05 | — |
Findings
Worth a look Gifts
$860 in gifts from COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL EXECUTIVES in 2026, over the gift ban's $75 limit
Their own gift reports list 1 item from COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL EXECUTIVES received in 2026, worth $860.00 in all: Registration ($860.00). The Colorado Constitution's gift ban limits what an official may accept from one person in a calendar year to $75 (as adjusted for inflation), with exceptions: food and admission where they speak or answer questions, a nonprofit's or government's reasonable expenses for a meeting where they take part, gifts from relatives and personal friends on a special occasion, tokens and informational material, and anything they paid fair value for. Reporting a gift is required either way; the report doesn't say which exception, if any, applies.
What to check- Whether an exception in art. XXIX, sec. 3(3) applies: a speaking role or scheduled program, a nonprofit (under 5% for-profit funding) or government paying for a meeting they took part in, a relative or personal friend, or payment of fair value by the official.
- The Independent Ethics Commission's advisory opinions and letter rulings on similar gifts.
- The report itself in TRACER (Supplemental Reports: Gifts, Honoraria and Other Benefits).
Rule: Gifts over the gift ban's limit
“shall solicit, accept or receive any gift or other thing of value having either a fair market value or aggregate actual cost greater than fifty dollars ($50) in any calendar year”Colorado Constitution, art. XXIX, sec. 3(2) (the Independent Ethics Commission's copy); the limit is $75 from 2023 (IEC Position Statement 23-01) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Context Gifts
$655 in gifts from COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL EXECUTIVES in 2025, over the gift ban's $75 limit unless an exception applies
Their own gift reports list 1 item from COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL EXECUTIVES received in 2025, worth $655.00 in all: 2025 winter conference ($655.00). The Colorado Constitution's gift ban limits what an official may accept from one person in a calendar year to $75 (as adjusted for inflation), with exceptions: food and admission where they speak or answer questions, a nonprofit's or government's reasonable expenses for a meeting where they take part, gifts from relatives and personal friends on a special occasion, tokens and informational material, and anything they paid fair value for. The description (“conference”) suggests one may apply. Reporting a gift is required either way; the report doesn't say which exception, if any, applies.
What to check- Whether an exception in art. XXIX, sec. 3(3) applies: a speaking role or scheduled program, a nonprofit (under 5% for-profit funding) or government paying for a meeting they took part in, a relative or personal friend, or payment of fair value by the official.
- The Independent Ethics Commission's advisory opinions and letter rulings on similar gifts.
- The report itself in TRACER (Supplemental Reports: Gifts, Honoraria and Other Benefits).
Rule: Gifts over the gift ban's limit
“shall solicit, accept or receive any gift or other thing of value having either a fair market value or aggregate actual cost greater than fifty dollars ($50) in any calendar year”Colorado Constitution, art. XXIX, sec. 3(2) (the Independent Ethics Commission's copy); the limit is $75 from 2023 (IEC Position Statement 23-01) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Context Gifts
$455 in gifts from COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL EXECUTIVES (CASE) CONFERENCE in 2025, over the gift ban's $75 limit unless an exception applies
Their own gift reports list 1 item from COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL EXECUTIVES (CASE) CONFERENCE received in 2025, worth $455.00 in all: Conference registration ($455.00). The Colorado Constitution's gift ban limits what an official may accept from one person in a calendar year to $75 (as adjusted for inflation), with exceptions: food and admission where they speak or answer questions, a nonprofit's or government's reasonable expenses for a meeting where they take part, gifts from relatives and personal friends on a special occasion, tokens and informational material, and anything they paid fair value for. The description (“conference”) suggests one may apply. Reporting a gift is required either way; the report doesn't say which exception, if any, applies.
What to check- Whether an exception in art. XXIX, sec. 3(3) applies: a speaking role or scheduled program, a nonprofit (under 5% for-profit funding) or government paying for a meeting they took part in, a relative or personal friend, or payment of fair value by the official.
- The Independent Ethics Commission's advisory opinions and letter rulings on similar gifts.
- The report itself in TRACER (Supplemental Reports: Gifts, Honoraria and Other Benefits).
Rule: Gifts over the gift ban's limit
“shall solicit, accept or receive any gift or other thing of value having either a fair market value or aggregate actual cost greater than fifty dollars ($50) in any calendar year”Colorado Constitution, art. XXIX, sec. 3(2) (the Independent Ethics Commission's copy); the limit is $75 from 2023 (IEC Position Statement 23-01) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Context Gifts
$595 in gifts from COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL EXECUTIVES (CASE) WINTER CONFERENCE in 2024, over the gift ban's $75 limit unless an exception applies
Their own gift reports list 1 item from COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL EXECUTIVES (CASE) WINTER CONFERENCE received in 2024, worth $595.00 in all: Registration cost for case winter leadership conference ($595.00). The Colorado Constitution's gift ban limits what an official may accept from one person in a calendar year to $75 (as adjusted for inflation), with exceptions: food and admission where they speak or answer questions, a nonprofit's or government's reasonable expenses for a meeting where they take part, gifts from relatives and personal friends on a special occasion, tokens and informational material, and anything they paid fair value for. The description (“conference”) suggests one may apply. Reporting a gift is required either way; the report doesn't say which exception, if any, applies.
What to check- Whether an exception in art. XXIX, sec. 3(3) applies: a speaking role or scheduled program, a nonprofit (under 5% for-profit funding) or government paying for a meeting they took part in, a relative or personal friend, or payment of fair value by the official.
- The Independent Ethics Commission's advisory opinions and letter rulings on similar gifts.
- The report itself in TRACER (Supplemental Reports: Gifts, Honoraria and Other Benefits).
Rule: Gifts over the gift ban's limit
“shall solicit, accept or receive any gift or other thing of value having either a fair market value or aggregate actual cost greater than fifty dollars ($50) in any calendar year”Colorado Constitution, art. XXIX, sec. 3(2) (the Independent Ethics Commission's copy); the limit is $75 from 2023 (IEC Position Statement 23-01) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Context Gifts
$540 in gifts from CASE 2024 SUMMER CONFERENCE in 2024, over the gift ban's $75 limit unless an exception applies
Their own gift reports list 1 item from CASE 2024 SUMMER CONFERENCE received in 2024, worth $540.00 in all: Case 2024 summer conference registration ($540.00). The Colorado Constitution's gift ban limits what an official may accept from one person in a calendar year to $75 (as adjusted for inflation), with exceptions: food and admission where they speak or answer questions, a nonprofit's or government's reasonable expenses for a meeting where they take part, gifts from relatives and personal friends on a special occasion, tokens and informational material, and anything they paid fair value for. The description (“conference”) suggests one may apply. Reporting a gift is required either way; the report doesn't say which exception, if any, applies.
What to check- Whether an exception in art. XXIX, sec. 3(3) applies: a speaking role or scheduled program, a nonprofit (under 5% for-profit funding) or government paying for a meeting they took part in, a relative or personal friend, or payment of fair value by the official.
- The Independent Ethics Commission's advisory opinions and letter rulings on similar gifts.
- The report itself in TRACER (Supplemental Reports: Gifts, Honoraria and Other Benefits).
Rule: Gifts over the gift ban's limit
“shall solicit, accept or receive any gift or other thing of value having either a fair market value or aggregate actual cost greater than fifty dollars ($50) in any calendar year”Colorado Constitution, art. XXIX, sec. 3(2) (the Independent Ethics Commission's copy); the limit is $75 from 2023 (IEC Position Statement 23-01) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Gifts they reported
What Karla Esser listed on their quarterly reports of gifts, honoraria and other benefits since 2024: $3,155 across 6 items from 5 sources. Givers who are clients of a registered lobbyist are marked.
| From | What, when | Value |
|---|
COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL EXECUTIVES
$1,515 in all · lobbyist's client | REGISTRATION · 2026-07-28 | $860 |
| 2025 WINTER CONFERENCE · 2025-02-19 | $655 |
COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL EXECUTIVES (CASE) WINTER CONFERENCE
$595 in all | REGISTRATION COST FOR CASE WINTER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE · 2024-02-21 | $595 |
CASE 2024 SUMMER CONFERENCE
$540 in all | CASE 2024 SUMMER CONFERENCE REGISTRATION · 2024-06-28 | $540 |
COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL EXECUTIVES (CASE) CONFERENCE
$455 in all | CONFERENCE REGISTRATION · 2025-07-23 | $455 |
PEBC COLO ED WORFORCE FORUM
$50 in all | REGISTRATION · 2024-05-08 | $50 |
From the reports in TRACER (search them: Gifts and Honoraria Report). Officials file one each quarter in which they receive a reportable item (C.R.S. 24-6-203).
Campaign money: State Board of Education District 7
$22,955itemized, 135 contributions
$60from the candidate (incl. loans)
Where their outside money comes from
78%11%
IndividualsBusinessesTrade, professional and issue groupsLabor unionsTribal governmentsPolitical partiesOther candidates and officeholders
Plus $10 of their own money and from their earlier campaigns' committees. Compare with all state candidates →
How it was spent: $20,292
Advertising$16,819
Other$1,030
Consultants and professional services$800
Travel & Lodging$743
Bank Fees$570
Fundraising Expenses$180
Toward independent expenditures$150
Largest payees: PRACTICAL CAMPAIGN SERVICES $16,000 Advertising · COLORADO DEMOCRATIC PARTY $1,180 Other · SEIDEL CONSUTING $800 Consultants and professional services · CORAZON PRINTING $503 Advertising · HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS $463 Travel & Lodging · HAMPTON INN $207 Travel & Lodging · JEFFERSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY $180 Fundraising Expenses · GREAT EDUCATION COLORADO INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE $150 Toward independent expenditures
Expenditures their committee reported to TRACER over the election cycle, by the type the committee gave; a consultant's payments to others (ads, mail) show under the consultant.
| Top contributors | Type | Total |
|---|
COLORADO AFL-CIO SMALL DONOR COMMITTEE (COLORADO AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR & CONGRESS OF INDUSTRI
Denver | Small Donor Committee | $2,000 |
PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Denver | Small Donor Committee | $2,000 |
KELLIE CARROLL
Teacher/Education · CHERRY CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT · Aurora | Individual | $450 |
ALICE COLLINS
Teacher/Education · COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION · Denver | Individual | $450 |
MARK DOMERMUTH
Retired · NOT EMPLOYED · Golden | Individual | $450 |
LISA ESCARCEGA
Retired · NOT EMPLOYED · Denver | Individual | $450 |
VINZENZ ESSER
Retired · NOT EMPLOYED · Lakewood | Individual | $450 |
DENISE GAUL
Healthcare/Medical · MERCK · Denver | Individual | $450 |
JANE GOFF
Retired · NOT EMPLOYED · Arvada | Individual | $450 |
SARAH GOULD
Consultant · SELF EMPLOYED · Brighton | Individual | $450 |
PAT HUTSELL
Retired · NOT EMPLOYED · Parker | Individual | $450 |
ERIC JENSEN
Retired · NOT EMPLOYED · Lakewood | Individual | $450 |
JOHN KARY
Retired · NOT EMPLOYED · Highlands Ranch | Individual | $450 |
JUDITH KARY
Retired · NOT EMPLOYED · Highlands Ranch | Individual | $450 |
STEVE KENNEDY
Retired · NOT EMPLOYED · Aurora | Individual | $450 |
Committees: COLORADANS FOR KARLA ESSER. From the Secretary of State's TRACER bulk files.
Their donors also gave to
Their largest donors who also funded other 2026 state candidates.
| Donor | To them | Candidates funded | By party |
|---|
PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Group or PAC · Denver | $2,000 | 36 | |
COLORADO AFL-CIO SMALL DONOR COMMITTEE (COLORADO AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR & CONGRESS OF INDUSTRI
Labor union · Denver | $2,000 | 54 | |
LISA ESCARCEGA
Not Currently Employed, NOT EMPLOYED · Denver | $450 | 15 | |
KATHY PLOMER
Other, NEXT50 · Broomfield | $450 | 27 | |
ALICE COLLINS
Teacher/Education, COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION · Denver | $450 | 2 | |
ED PERLMUTTER
Attorney/Legal, HOLLAND AND KNIGHT · Arvada | $450 | 14 | |
JANE GOFF
Not Currently Employed, NOT EMPLOYED · Arvada | $450 | 12 | |
MARSHA WILLIAMS
Not Currently Employed, NOT EMPLOYED · Lakewood | $250 | 3 | |
CASSIE HARRELSON
Teacher/Education, EXPLORELEARNING · Aspen | $250 | 2 | |
BIRD FOR COLORADO LEADERSHIP FUND
Candidate or officeholder committee · Redacted By Sos | $250 | 31 | |
LORI GOLDSTEIN
Not Currently Employed, NOT EMPLOYED · Westminster | $250 | 24 | |
JUSTIN ADCOCK
Teacher/Education, WESTMINSTER P.S. AND REGIS UNIVERSITY · Brighton | $250 | 4 | |
NEIL FISHMAN
Not Currently Employed, NOT EMPLOYED · Boulder | $250 | 21 | |
AFT COLORADO FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, SCHOOL, HEALTH AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (SDC)
Labor union · Denver | $225 | 68 | |
COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION - POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITT
Labor union · Washington | $225 | 45 | |