Secretary of State investigating campaign finance complaint from Douglas County resident over group supporting school funding measure

A Douglas County resident has lodged a criticism towards a bunch advocating for a faculty tax and bond measure, and state elections officers are actually investigating.

Tiffany Baker, of Parker, filed a marketing campaign finance criticism towards a difficulty committee referred to as Put money into DCSD that’s registered to foyer in assist of Douglas County poll points 5A and 5B.

The proposed $60 million mill-levy override would pay Douglas County College District lecturers and faculty workers extra, and the $450 million bond would construct new faculties and restore others. 

The college board voted unanimously in assist of the measures — the primary time the deeply divided board agreed on one thing. Regardless of the unified entrance, the divisions stay, and battles which have performed out within the boardroom have left many residents with uncooked emotions. 

The Secretary of State’s workplace reviewed the criticism and recognized “a number of potential violations of Colorado marketing campaign finance legal guidelines.”

The criticism alleges that Put money into DCSD accepted prohibited contributions through the use of an area fireplace station to marketing campaign for the measures, made an improper contribution to candidates within the 2022 election, and failed to incorporate required disclaimers on marketing campaign communications.

The Put money into DCSD chair and spokesperson stated that they’re working intently with the Secretary of State and have been advised {that a} violation might not have occurred. 

“They’re nonetheless within the technique of reality gathering so we’re ready on them to request extra data. Sadly anybody can file a criticism whether or not there are deserves to the criticism or not,” stated Christa Gilstrap.

Put money into DCSD has till Nov. 10 to reply and adjust to the regulation.

Within the criticism, Baker offered Fb posts from Oct. 16 promoting an occasion hosted by Put money into DCSD on the Larkspur Hearth Station. Screenshots present the group inviting individuals to come back to the Oct. 20 occasion, promising that a lot of candidates operating within the election can be in attendance.

The publish said that the occasion was “hosted by native residents” and never coordinated with any candidate or marketing campaign committee.

Beneath marketing campaign finance regulation, utilizing authorities property for a political occasion associated to an area poll subject is a prohibited contribution. The criticism alleges Put money into DCSD did not return the contribution required by Colorado marketing campaign and political finance legal guidelines.

Baker additionally alleges the group made improper contributions to a lot of candidates within the November election by inviting them and promoting their presence on the marketing campaign occasion.  Solely the attendance of GOP candidates, together with candidates for the state legislature and the clerk and recorder’s, assessor and sheriff’s workplace, was marketed on the publish.

A “paid for by” disclaimer assertion should seem on a marketing campaign communication when an individual spends $1,000 or extra in a single yr on election communications. The Fb posts didn’t function a disclaimer.

“I’d don’t have any drawback if the candidates merely confirmed up on the discussion board however I feel it’s incorrect for the 5A/5B poll committee to be selling partisan political candidates,” Baker wrote within the criticism. Baker stated the publish conveys the message that Douglas County voters who assist 5A and 5B ought to vote for these candidates. The Secretary of State stated the information alleged present Put money into DCSD might have violated marketing campaign finance regulation. It stated nevertheless, the difficulty committee has an opportunity to adjust to the regulation inside 10 days. Put money into DCSD can even dispute the allegations, and state officers should conduct a further overview inside 30 days.