Colorado business leaders are rallying this week in a last-minute attempt to pay off Gov.-elect Bill Ritter’s campaign debts – estimated at about $250,000.
William Mutch, executive director of Colorado Concern, the group leading the effort, said this isn’t about currying favor with the incoming governor.
“We want to show that we can get projects done when asked,” Mutch said. “When you have a public-policy initiative to get done, you can turn to us with civic kind of things and we’ll do it.”
According to an e-mail plea sent Wednesday morning by Mutch, the group, made up of about 100 top executives, has helped collect nearly $200,000.
“Thanks to the efforts of Colorado Concern, we have reduced this amount to $55,000!” Mutch wrote. “However, we only have until close-of-business Thursday to erase this final amount from the books.”
Mutch even offers his group’s services as a courier for the checks.
In the e-mail, Mutch encourages executives to consider using the LLC loophole to give multiple contributions to the Ritter campaign.
The LLC loophole lets limited liability companies controlled by an executive also give money to the campaign.
An individual contributor can give a maximum $1,000 during the election cycle.
But each LLC controlled by an executive can also give a $1,000 contribution.
Evan Dreyer, spokesman for Ritter, said the Ritter campaign made its own plea for contributions Monday and plans to issue another request today.
Detailed campaign finance reports are due to the Colorado secretary of state’s office this week.
In the final filing before the election, Ritter’s campaign showed it had about $70,000 on hand Nov. 1.
Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez’s report showed he had about $61,000.
Ritter showed his campaign had raised a total $4 million as of Nov. 1.
Beauprez raised $3.85 million, including $305,000 in loans to himself.
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-954-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
