Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Growing Pueblo's Future on Monday withdrew a campaign finance complaint filed last week by a group member against Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo.
The complaint was filed with the Colorado Secretary of State's office last Wednesday alleging that Growing Pueblo's Future was violating state campaign laws by distributing mailers and a door hanger piece of campaign material without properly identifying what group paid for it.
But, Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo denied that the material was produced by its group members.
Jim Parco, a spokesman for Growing Pueblo's Future told The Pueblo Chieftain last week that he targeted the anti-pot group, because they were the only organization listed supporting Proclamation 200, which calls for an end to the sale and production of commercial marijuana in Pueblo County.
Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo started the petition to get the proclamation on the November ballot last summer. Since then, the two groups have battled through protests, lawsuits and complaints.
"We take people at their word. Given that Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo has publicly stated that they did not produce the flyers and had nothing to do with the funding of the fliers, there is no reason to proceed with a complaint against them," Parco said in a statement.
"We now know who is behind this, and it is Safer Pueblo. Now the question is what special interest groups are funding them? It sure looks like dark money here."
On Friday, the pro-pot group filed a complaint against Safer Pueblo, which has its name printed on at door hanger campaign flyer.
Parco said Safer Pueblo is not registered with the Colorado Secretary of State as an issue committee, and, thus, has no legal right to distribute this material.
"Either they are acting on their own unlawfully, or they have special-interest groups as clients who are circumventing campaign finance laws" Parco said.
"This is no longer about a political issue. This is about integrity, compliance and transparency.
The public has every right to know the story behind these organizations with respect to the
unlawful mailers and door hangers, and we are anxious to hear from them, either publicly or in a court of law under oath. It's their choice."
Parco filed a third complaint Friday against The Media Center alleging that this group also distributed an "unlawful" flyer.
"It's surprising to see these unlawful mailers continue to show up in our mailboxes. Whomever is doing this is not connected to Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo by their own admission, and we believe this is also unlawful campaign activity, because whomever it is, they also aren't registered with the Colorado Secretary of State as a 527 issue committee."
Parco's group filed another campaign finance complaint against Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo over the summer, but it was dismissed by a Denver administrative law judge.
The judge ruled that the evidence presented by former Pueblo County Sheriff Dan Corsentino on behalf of Growing Pueblo's Future did not prove any of the alleged violations of Colorado campaign practice laws.
The complaint, filed by Corsentino June 17, alleged a failure by Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo to itemize contributions and disclose an in-kind contribution.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pueblo Pro-Pot Group Drops Campaign Finance Complaint
Author: Anthony A. Mestas
Contact: (719) 544-3520
Photo Credit: Rashad Sisemore
Website: The Pueblo Chieftan
The complaint was filed with the Colorado Secretary of State's office last Wednesday alleging that Growing Pueblo's Future was violating state campaign laws by distributing mailers and a door hanger piece of campaign material without properly identifying what group paid for it.
But, Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo denied that the material was produced by its group members.
Jim Parco, a spokesman for Growing Pueblo's Future told The Pueblo Chieftain last week that he targeted the anti-pot group, because they were the only organization listed supporting Proclamation 200, which calls for an end to the sale and production of commercial marijuana in Pueblo County.
Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo started the petition to get the proclamation on the November ballot last summer. Since then, the two groups have battled through protests, lawsuits and complaints.
"We take people at their word. Given that Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo has publicly stated that they did not produce the flyers and had nothing to do with the funding of the fliers, there is no reason to proceed with a complaint against them," Parco said in a statement.
"We now know who is behind this, and it is Safer Pueblo. Now the question is what special interest groups are funding them? It sure looks like dark money here."
On Friday, the pro-pot group filed a complaint against Safer Pueblo, which has its name printed on at door hanger campaign flyer.
Parco said Safer Pueblo is not registered with the Colorado Secretary of State as an issue committee, and, thus, has no legal right to distribute this material.
"Either they are acting on their own unlawfully, or they have special-interest groups as clients who are circumventing campaign finance laws" Parco said.
"This is no longer about a political issue. This is about integrity, compliance and transparency.
The public has every right to know the story behind these organizations with respect to the
unlawful mailers and door hangers, and we are anxious to hear from them, either publicly or in a court of law under oath. It's their choice."
Parco filed a third complaint Friday against The Media Center alleging that this group also distributed an "unlawful" flyer.
"It's surprising to see these unlawful mailers continue to show up in our mailboxes. Whomever is doing this is not connected to Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo by their own admission, and we believe this is also unlawful campaign activity, because whomever it is, they also aren't registered with the Colorado Secretary of State as a 527 issue committee."
Parco's group filed another campaign finance complaint against Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo over the summer, but it was dismissed by a Denver administrative law judge.
The judge ruled that the evidence presented by former Pueblo County Sheriff Dan Corsentino on behalf of Growing Pueblo's Future did not prove any of the alleged violations of Colorado campaign practice laws.
The complaint, filed by Corsentino June 17, alleged a failure by Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo to itemize contributions and disclose an in-kind contribution.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pueblo Pro-Pot Group Drops Campaign Finance Complaint
Author: Anthony A. Mestas
Contact: (719) 544-3520
Photo Credit: Rashad Sisemore
Website: The Pueblo Chieftan
