Tuesday, July 26th - Estes Park Citizens for Representative Government Committee Found Guilty... Two citizens of Estes Park successfully
challenged Estes Park Citizens for Representative Government (EPCRG)
for failing
to register the Committee with the Municipal Clerk
of Estes Park; failing to identify the Committee's registered
agent; and failing to file
reports of contributions and expenditure.
Hearing on the
merits of the complaint was held on July 5, 2005, at the Office
of Administrative
Courts, in Denver, Colorado. Complainants Justus Drake and Joe
Hall were represented
by Nathan F. Donovan, Esq. The Committee and Respondents Pritchard
and Clark were represented by Herbert C. Phillips, Esq.
Respondent Coleman represented himself; Respondent Shanks did
not appear at hearing. The
written decision rendered on Friday (07/22/05) by Administrative
Law Judge ("ALJ")
Michelle A. Norcross found by
a preponderance of the evidence
that EPCRG violated § 1-45-108
(6), C.R.S. of the Colorado Fair
Campaign Practices Act
(FCPA) by failing to file a committee
registration form
with the appropriate officer within ten business days of
receiving its first contribution, and by
failing to file its Report of
Contributions and Expenditures
with the appropriate officer within fifteen days of
the day it should have filed its committee registration form.
Therefore, the ALJ imposed a penalty of $270 on EPCRG. Justus Drake stated, “I’m pleased with the final decision and to see the system worked for all.” “Every Committee needs to follow Fair Campaign Practices Act including the Committee advocated the Recall of Town Councilman David Habecker. We were concerned local elections be fair and equitable to the electorate, just as county or state elections. All committee reports and contributions must be a matter of public record. We anticipate that the Estes Park Citizens Committee for Representative Government will file the missing reports to accomplish required compliance under the Colorado State Law governing elections.” The complete text of the Agency Decision can be found via the link below:
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