GREELEY, Colo.—Republican Senate candidate Ken Buck plans to give up two months pay from his district attorney’s job as he campaigns against Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.
Buck informed the county commissioners of his decision in a letter on Monday.
Buck earns $140,000 a year and will give up $11,666 in pay for September and October.
“Campaigning for the United States Senate is a time consuming endeavor, and I believe it appropriate to return my salary to the Weld County taxpayers,” Buck said in the letter, first reported by the Greeley Tribune.
Buck said he would stay in regular contact with his office while on the campaign trail. Assistant District Attorney Michael Rourke will oversee the office during the campaign, office spokeswoman Jennifer Finch said.
Buck spokesman Owen Loftus said Buck wouldn’t give up any of his salary earned during the contentious primary race against Jane Norton, saying he was serving in his job full time.
Bennet’s campaign, however, calculated that Buck has missed at least 113 days of work so far based on his appearances and says Buck should pay back $60,038 to taxpayers for that time on the campaign trail.
Loftus said most of Buck’s campaign events have been on nights and weekends and he missed a debate because it conflicted with his duties as DA. When he did campaign during the day, he said Buck remained in touch with his office whenever he campaigned during the day.
Loftus said Bennet should give up his Senate paycheck during the campaign.
