Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Holtzman, who has been criticized for appearing in television ads against Referendums C and D, on Monday accused opponent Bob Beauprez of doing something similar during his 2002 campaign.
Last week, Holtzman’s ads against the budget measures on November’s ballot drew fire from Beauprez and others after financial disclosures showed that Holtzman’s father gave $100,000 and his chief fundraiser donated $50,000 to the committee that made the ads.
Holtzman’s critics accused him of skirting campaign finance laws that limit donations to a governor’s race to $1,000. Holtzman said that was “absolutely not” the case.
On Monday, Holtzman’s camp sent out newspaper articles from Beauprez’s 2002 congressional race about Beauprez’s appearance in ads for his bank while running in the 7th Congressional District.
“This is a two-way street. And if we’re going to be criticized for that, then we shouldn’t be criticized by Beauprez, who did exactly the same thing,” said Holtzman campaign manager Dick Leggitt. “And the difference is that we don’t control that committee, but he does control his bank.”
Beauprez spokesman John Marshall said the comparison that Holtzman’s campaign is trying to draw is not fair or accurate.
“The only thing I’m going to say is that Bob’s campaign has always followed the law, which is more than we can say about the ads Seymour Holtzman is paying for,” said Marshall, referring to Holtzman’s father.
But Marshall acknowledged that no court has ruled that Holtzman’s ads were illegal.
Marshall said no one brought a campaign finance complaint against Beauprez in 2002. His gubernatorial campaign has hired Denver lawyer Scott Gessler and is considering filing a complaint against Holtzman.
Holtzman has closely tied his gubernatorial campaign to the defeat of November’s budget measures. Referendum C asks voters to forgo an estimated $3.7 billion that would otherwise be returned to them under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. Its companion measure, Referendum D, would allow for $2.1 billion in loans to pay largely for improvements to roads and schools.
Staff writer Chris Frates can be reached at 303-820-1633 or cfrates@denverpost.com.
