DENVER-
Secretary of State Mike Coffman has asked the state auditor to investigate allegations that one of his elections workers was selling voter data through a personal Web site in violation of rules for state employees.
Coffman said Tuesday an investigation by his office determined that the worker, elections technology manager Dan Kopelman, had outside activities incompatible with his job, but he found no evidence Kopelman wrongfully accessed or sold state data.
Kopelman has been moved out of his job in the elections division and currently reports directly to the department’s chief information officer, said Jonathan Tee, Coffman’s spokesman.
Kopelman referred calls to Tee.
State Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak called on Coffman to fire Kopelman after a Web site, epluribusmedia.org, reported that he was offering to sell Republican candidates campaign data through his Web site, politicallivewires.com.
“The initial results of our investigation show that Mr. Kopelman did not have access to the Department’s voter registration data, and that he has not purchased voter registration data from this office,” Tee said.
Tee said the investigation found Kopelman appears to have violated two state personnel rules, engaging in outside employment without permission and conducting activities “incompatible” with his state employment.
Coffman, whose relationship with Kopelman dates back to 1994, said last week that he was disappointed by the revelation of Kopelman’s Web site.
Kopelman previously worked for Coffman in the treasurer’s office, and took a leave last fall to work on his campaign.
