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The Denver Post, Jan 9, 2009
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The Denver Post, Jan 8, 2009
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The Pueblo Chieftain, Jan 8, 2009
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The Pueblo Chieftain, Jan 8, 2009
"If there is a policy, there might need to be a better balance between protecting sensitive records and not inhibiting the rights of whislteblowers."
Lowder’s retirement leaves questions
By Ruth Heide, Alamosa Valley Courier,
September 10, 2008
Lowder, who is in her mid-60’s, resigned last week as the director of elections for the Colorado Secretary of State’s office, a position she held since leaving the Alamosa County Clerk & Recorder’s office two years ago.
Secretary of State Spokesperson Rich Coolidge said Lowder’s stated reason for resigning was to retire. He said she turned in her letter of resignation on September 3 and left the office on September 4.
Regarding allegations that Lowder’s association with one of the election equipment contractors may have compromised her position as election director, Coolidge responded, “When our office became aware of a potential conflict we investigated it and took appropriate action, and because of personnel rules certainly we cannot comment on that investigation.”
Coolidge said he could not speak to when the Secretary of State’s office became aware of a potential conflict of interest, whether that potential conflict related to Lowder’s alleged relationship with a vendor, what action the office took or whether the investigation was ongoing. He did say no criminal charges had been filed.
Lowder has publicly denied any conflict of interest and has denied assisting John Paulsen of LEDS, LLC, Castle Rock, with obtaining government contracts. She said she simply retired.
Coolidge said the Secretary of State’s office was well prepared for the November election and that Deputy Director of Elections Wayne Munster was filling Lowder’s vacancy so the office would continue to run smoothly. He said Munster had previously served as acting director of elections before Lowder was hired and has worked in the office for about eight years.
At least one group has registered a strong reaction to Lowder’s resignation and the potential conflict of interest she may have posed to the Secretary of State’s office. The group ProgressNowAction asked for Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman to resign his office immediately. The group also launched a statewide online petition calling on the public to join the group in its call for Coffman to resign.
“Secretary Coffman has a pattern of conflicts of interest and should resign immediately,” stated Michael Huttner, Executive Director of ProgressNowAction, an online advocacy organization. “After last Friday’s resignation of the State Elections Director, Coloradoans need a full-time Secretary of State, not someone who’s campaigning full-time and overseeing the election on the side.”
Huttner added, “Colorado voters cannot afford to have a fox guarding the henhouse.”
ProgressNowAction stated that Lowder resigned after Colorado Ethics Watch exposed a conflict of interest between Coffman’s office and a voter database consultant (Paulsen) who received more than $183,000 in contracts from Coffman’s office in the past year.
Colorado Ethics Watch filed a complaint with the newly established Independent Ethics Commission against Coffman for his pattern of ethical misconduct.
Lowder served as Alamosa County Clerk & Recorder from 1981 when she was appointed to the position to 2006 when she took the position with the state department under then- Secretary of State Gigi Dennis. She had worked in the clerk’s office since 1974. She ran for office in 1982 and was re-elected to serve continuously from that time until her 2006 departure.
Lowder was instrumental in many improvements to the Alamosa County Clerk & Recorder’s office including technology upgrades including electronic recording of documents and training, election improvements and implementation and compliance with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA.)
Lowder was also co-chairman of the statewide CSTARS (Colorado State Titles And Registration System) advisory board and served on several committees for the Secretary of State’s office. Lowder served on several other committees with the clerks association including the executive board.
Lowder served as the president of the Colorado County Clerk’s Association and chairman of the Southern Region County Clerk and Recorders. She was involved with state policies relating to motor vehicle registration and election reform. Lowder was also involved with the development of a new business license program and other projects including a new statewide marriage license application.
Raised in Alamosa, Lowder attended Alamosa schools and Adams State College. Also before moving to the Denver area she served on the business advisory board for Trinidad State Junior College and the San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority Board.
When Dennis announced the hiring of Lowder for the state elections director she said, “She is uniquely qualified to help our office prepare for the upcoming elections. Her qualifications will help us prepare for the upcoming elections. Most importantly she shares my goal to maintain the integrity and transparency of the elections process in Colorado.”
For the full story, please visit http://www.alamosanews.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=9268&pag...
