May 14, 2009

Today, Colorado Ethics Watch called on the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission (IEC), former Secretary of State Mike Coffman and his counsel to work with Ethics Watch to create a more thorough, accessible and transparent process for the IEC to handle ethics complaints. As a way of moving that process forward, Ethics Watch also announced that it will forego an appeal of the IEC’s recent decision.

The Independent Ethics Commission was established in 2006 as this state’s primary enforcement mechanism for violations of the ethics standards by investigating and hearing ethics complaints. The Colorado Constitution expressly requires the IEC to conduct investigations, hold public hearings, and render findings on non-frivolous complaints regarding allegations that any public official failed to comply with standards of conduct under state law. Ethics Watch filed a complaint with the IEC alleging ethics violations by Coffman while he served as secretary of state. It was the first and only complaint that has gone to a hearing before the IEC since it was established by voters in November 2006.

Chantell Taylor, director of Colorado Ethics Watch, released the following statement: “Throughout the complaint process, the commissioners made it abundantly clear that they are far more concerned about protecting public employees from allegations of wrongdoing than they are with fulfilling their constitutional mandate to enforce ethics standards. In this case, the parties agreed on two things: that the IEC shirked its constitutional responsibility to conduct an investigation and that the IEC’s denial of any pre-hearing discovery undermined the integrity of the process. The IEC’s failed system has implications far beyond the outcome of its first case and will not be fixed through any appellate decision. Instead, Ethics Watch is committing to work with the IEC for a balanced, more accessible process for it to handle ethics complaints. If Mr. Coffman and his counsel meant what they said then they will join us in this effort.”

Ethics Watch has actively participated in IEC activities since its inception.  Through the IEC complaint process and any other legal avenues, Ethics Watch will continue working to ensure that unethical behavior by public officials will be identified, examined in public, and reviewed for possible sanctions. 

The most comprehensive information and history about the IEC can be found on Ethics Watch’s website, www.coloradoforethics.org, under “Eye on the IEC.”