Ethics Watch in the News

Inspiring Students Toward Meaningful Work

ltoro — Mon, 5 Jan 2009 09:33:26 -0600

A long line of law students snaked down a hallway at the University of Colorado Wolf Law Building, into to the jam-packed cafeteria. A din of lively conversations echoed through the building. Normally, one could surmise from such circumstances that students were just following free food and beer. These students, however, were not looking for a free handout — instead, they were looking for an opportunity to give back.

Legislative Leaders Vote To Investigate Ethics Complaints

dstaggs — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:45:28 -0600

DENVER -- The office of Legislative Legal Services released details of a complaint filed against a lobbyist accused of trying to influence a legislative leadership election.

The complaint, released Friday, was outlined in a letter written by Representative-Elect Cindy Acree to House Minority Leader Mike May.

In that letter, Acree told May about several phone calls she'd received from members of the Chiropractors Association asking for meetings prior to a vote for a new House Minority Leader.

Two Republican groups fend off election law complaint

dstaggs — Thu, 4 Dec 2008 07:46:28 -0600

Two Republican groups that supported GOP legislative candidates did not break election laws with their campaign ads, a judge ruled this week.

Republicans were ecstatic at the ruling, saying the complaint against them was filed by a "liberal" organization intent on harassing the GOP.

"They're one-sided attack dogs, that's all," said Scott Shires, the administrator for one GOP group. "I've invited them to show me a list of the Democrats that they've sued. I'm still waiting."

Group looking into negative mailers in Garfield County commissioner election

dstaggs — Mon, 1 Dec 2008 07:43:52 -0600

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Two Democrats who unsuccessfully ran for two Garfield County commissioner seats are likely to let a Denver-based ethics group take the lead in filing a complaint over negative mailers sent in this year’s election.

Mike Sawyer, a Glenwood Springs attorney, said it is the preference of the two Democrats to let Colorado Ethics Watch file a possible complaint over reports that outside groups may have failed to file required campaign finance reports with the Colorado Secretary of State for the mailers they sent out.

Money spent on election to be released Dec. 4

dstaggs — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:48:30 -0600

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — The winners of this year’s two Garfield County commissioner races will have been known for at least a month.

But when Dec. 4 comes around, area residents may have a clearer picture of the amount of money spent on those two races. That day is when the candidates, along with groups that may have independently spent money to support their campaigns, have to file their latest campaign finance reports with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office.

Democrat confirmed as House 17 winner

dstaggs — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:47:51 -0600

The final canvas of the Nov. 4 election confirmed Democrat Dennis Apuan captured the House District 17 seat, the Clerk and Recorder's Office reported Wednesday.

Posting results two days before the deadline, the clerk's office reported that 274,681 people voted, a record for El Paso County. The 2004 presidential election drew 242,888 voters.

Voters set two other records as well: a record 37,198 voted early, and a record 138,763 voted by mail.

In Garfield County, 527s may be here to stay

dstaggs — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:06:48 -0600

One of the Garfield County commissioner candidates targeted by an attack campaign by outside groups said he plans to file a state ethics complaint against organizations that filled voters’ mailboxes with negative mailers but disclosed little information about the groups behind them.

“It appears to me it violates the law and I think I have a duty to turn it over to the secretary of state,” said Steve Carter, a retired judge and one of two Democratic candidates targeted by a last-minute smear campaign.

Western Skies wins one, loses one in state Senate races

dstaggs — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:49:42 -0600

There were mixed results Tuesday in pair of key state Senate races targeted by the shadowy, pro-energy nonprofit group Western Skies Coalition (WSC), which is being investigated by the IRS to determine if it’s actually engaged in social welfare activities or hard-core politicking.

Legal, journalism experts criticize Clerk’s media ban

dstaggs — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 07:42:47 -0600

Election officials throughout El Paso County attempted to bar media outlets from observing polling places on Election Day, in possible violation of state election rules and federal constitutional rights of a free press.

Legal and journalism experts say County Clerk Bob Balink's memo to employees on Election Day - which stated that "all media must stay outside of the 100-ft limit area" - was a blow to the transparency required in a fair and free election.

Political groups secretive; may not be illegal

dstaggs — Sat, 1 Nov 2008 13:12:26 -0500

Tens of thousands of dollars from outside political groups have flowed into Garfield County elections this year, mostly in favor of Republican candidates. It appears to be the first time such outside money has entered a county race in Colorado, and while these groups have been secretive, they may be operating perfectly legally.

“The fact that they haven’t filed anything doesn’t necessarily mean they have broken any laws,” said Luis Toro, general counsel for the watchdog group Colorado Ethics Watch.

POLITIGAB: The deciding vote

dstaggs — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:53:14 -0500

You - yes, you - could cast the ballot that hands the presidency to Barack Obama or John McCain. Just don't bet on it.

Working with computer models developed by the political analysts at fivethirtyeight.com, Andrew Gelman, a Columbia University professor, figured the odds of the presidential election actually being decided by an individual voter in Colorado, New Mexico, Virginia or New Hampshire.

His estimate? The Web site reports that you have a roughly one-in-10-million chance of being the voter who actually swings the election.

GOP 527 sued over illegal fliers targets Northwest Colorado races

dstaggs — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:50:04 -0500

Senate Majority Fund, a controversial 527 political committee being sued by Colorado Ethics Watch for alleged campaign violations, is raising some eyebrows in and around Steamboat Springs with a wave of fliers weighing in on the state Senate District 8 race.

Non-profit pushes limits of election law

dstaggs — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:47:49 -0500

With less than a week to go before Election Day, a conservative nonprofit group is weighing in heavily with advertising aimed at two area legislators in hotly contested races.

The American Future Fund, based in Des Moines, purchased more than $100,000 worth of television ads to praise Iowa Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, R-Davenport, and criticize Rep.

Elesha Gayman, D-Davenport.

The ads began airing on Wednesday.

Election Watchdog Group Warns of Ballot Shortage

dstaggs — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:47:18 -0500

DENVER - Ethics Watch, a Denver based nonprofit that monitors elections, questions whether the state's big counties, especally El Paso County, will have enough ballots on Election Day.

The group indicates that El Paso, home of Colorado Springs, has had problems in the past with a shortage of ballots because of how they estimate election day needs.

Memorial donation to tax group questioned

dstaggs — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:43:40 -0500

A government watchdog agency said Tuesday it is considering filing a complaint with the Secretary of State's Office over Memorial Health System's $4,000 donation to the Citizens for Effective Government, a group promoting El Paso County's 1 percent sales tax increase on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera on Tuesday called the donation "a dumb idea" by Dick Eitel, former CEO of the city-owned hospital, and said Memorial's board wasn't told of the gift.

Committee attacks Brenner

dstaggs — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:16:40 -0500

Steamboat Springs — A controversial political committee has thrown its hat into the Senate District 8 arena with mailings that criticize Democratic candidate Ken Brenner and promote his opponent, state Rep. Al White, R-Hayden.

Group worries paper ballots will run out

dstaggs — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:13:04 -0500

A government watchdog group questions whether El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Bob Balink has printed enough ballots for Election Day.

But election officials say they're prepared for a record turnout with ample paper ballots, considering roughly 175,000 people are expected to vote early or by mail.

El Paso County has 374,070 registered voters. Balink has ordered 170,895 paper ballots for Election Day, or about 46 percent of the voter count.

Peering Through: Hank Eng's Bid For Congress

ltoro — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:36:41 -0500

On the morning of this year's September 11 anniversary, the final notes of Taps fade from a fireman's bugle and the Stars and Stripes at Jewell Elementary School in Denver, Colorado, is lowered ceremonially to half mast.

"If I can live the American dream then so can these kids, no matter how bad the economy or the threat of terrorism," says Hank Eng, gesturing to several hundred four- and five-year-olds who have broken into an all-American cheer after the minute's silence honouring those

American Future Fund attack doesn’t add up

dstaggs — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:15:17 -0500

The Des Moines-based conservative non-profit American Future Fund is once again being called to task for an ad that seems to be playing fast and loose with the truth.