Jared Polis’ congressional campaign Thursday lashed out at one of his Democratic rivals for the 2nd District seat, criticizing her financial backers as anti-environment.
Joan Fitz-Gerald has taken money from energy interests such as Xcel Energy PAC, Chevron Corp. and Newmont Mining — supporters normally backing Republican candidates, the Polis campaign says.
“Fitz-Gerald’s contributors include some of the largest anti-environmental corporations and human-rights violators in the world,” said Wanda James, Polis’ campaign manager.
But Polis’ funders are not above reproach, counters Mary Alice Mandarich, campaign manager for Fitz-Gerald.
She listed energy investor Alex Cranberg and economist Arthur Laffer — whom she described as the “father of Reagonomics” — among his donors.
“I’m sure Jared just forgot about those donations,” Mandarich said. “Now that Jared has truly become a self-funder of his campaign, I think he’s actually a special interest of one.”
Polis’ has put nearly $400,000 of his own money into the campaign, which boosts the amount the third Democrat in the primary, Will Shafroth, can accept from individual donors under federal finance rules.
Mandarich accused the Polis campaign of trying to deflect attention from the fact that he has tripped the so-called “millionaire amendment.”
