The two Republicans running for Congress in the 7th District split on a request for their income-tax records, with Ryan Frazier releasing partial information and Lang Sias providing five full years as requested.
Frazier released the first two pages of his tax records to The Denver Post, but those records don’t show charitable giving, the use of tax shelters and other financial data.
The winner of Tuesday’s primary faces U.S. Rep. Ed Perl mutter, D-Golden, who is seeking a third term.
Asked why Frazier did not release his full records, his campaign spokesman, T.Q. Houlton, said Frazier has been “100 percent compliant with the U.S. House of Representatives financial disclosure rules.”
“He has disclosed the same information Rep. Perlmutter and any other candidate running for Congress is required to disclose,” Houlton said.
The congressional financial disclosure forms require candidates to list income, debts, stocks and other assets.
Sias’ campaign manager, Sean Walsh, was critical of Frazier for not providing the information.
“The taxpayers deserve better,” he said. “Lang Sias has made every effort at transparency during this entire campaign.”
Walsh added that Sias also has released his Navy fitness reports, which show the candidate regularly received glowing reviews. Frazier said he could locate only his final review, which was positive.
Sias is a pilot employed by Federal Express and the National Guard. His wife, Rene, stays at home with their three young children. Their adjusted gross income last year was $99,187.
Since 2005, the couple has made charitable contributions of around $3,700, giving money to groups including the Disabled Veterans of America and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Noncash charitable items included clothing and household goods to Vietnam Veterans of America.
Their write-offs also include losses from two rental properties in Virginia, homes Sias bought when he was single and after the couple married.
Frazier is an Aurora city councilman, which pays $12,752 a year. He and his wife, Kathy, have three young children.
Their 1040 forms show their highest adjusted gross income in the past five years was $141,654 in 2008 when he was employed by Avaya, a telecommunications firm. Frazier quit Avaya in March 2009.
The couple’s adjusted gross income last year was $81,328, which included Frazier cashing a $23,093 annuity.
“Ryan has worked hard so that he and his family can live off of personal savings while he runs for Congress,” Houlton said.
“Like most Colorado families, the Fraziers have had to cut back, but they feel strongly that this is a real chance for Ryan to help make a better life for others, not just themselves.”
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
