A Virginia anti-tax group run by that state’s former governor has contributed $140,000 to the campaign to defeat Referendums C and D.
Americans for Freedom and Opportunity of Richmond, Va., gave the money to the “If C Wins, You Lose” committee in September, according to records filed Wednesday with the Colorado secretary of state.
The group is the committee’s third major donor with ties to Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Holtzman.
It is run by former Virginia Gov. James Gilmore III. Holtzman’s campaign manager, Dick Leggitt, ran Gilmore’s 1997 race.
Previously, a company owned by Holtzman’s father contributed $100,000 to the campaign. Holtzman’s chief fundraiser gave $50,000.
If C Wins has been running television ads featuring Holtzman.
Katy Atkinson, spokeswoman for the “Vote Yes on C & D” campaign, said the out-of-state opponents are trying to hide by donating money to nonprofit groups.
“It’s an incredibly cynical attempt to hide from the people of Colorado,” she said.
Also Wednesday, the Colorado Club for Growth Issues Committee reported raising $450,000 during the final two weeks of September. The group opposes the referendums. All of that money came from the Colorado Club for Growth. Individual donors were not disclosed.
The Vote Yes campaign committee reported raising $877,000 the last two of weeks of September. Donors included the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, $246,585; American Federation of Teachers, $100,000; and the Colorado Bar Association, $75,000.
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-820-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
