A watchdog group has asked the secretary of state to investigate whether former GOP Congressman Scott McInnis should be filing financial disclosures for his all-but-announced gubernatorial campaign.
Also at issue is a voicemail in which McInnis says he’s working with a 527 political group which, if true, could violate campaign finance laws.
Just how far McInnis’ pre-campaign campaign has advanced – employing staff, polling and cross-state travel – came to light in the voicemail obtained by last week.
“I don’t think it’s open to interpretation. I think he needs to register his committee and stop playing games,” said Chantell Taylor, director of Colorado Ethics Watch.
The law says a person becomes a candidate when he announces his candidacy or that he’s exploring a candidacy and then either accepts a contribution or spends money. Candidates must file public financial disclosures.
McInnis has said he is building support for his gubernatorial run and that there is no 527 political group helping him.
Mike Hesse, a volunteer and former McInnis chief of staff, accused Ethics Watch of being a Democratic front group that’s attacking the congressman because a recent poll showed him leading Gov. Bill Ritter.
“We’re confident that we’ve followed the letter of the law,” Hesse said. “We will announce our candidacy under our schedule and not theirs. We’re not going to get our campaign sidetracked over this stuff.”
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com.
