DENVER—Colorado’s newly elected secretary of state says the job doesn’t pay enough and he’ll take a side job with a law firm known for elections work.
Republican Scott Gessler has announced plans to work part-time for Hackstaff Law Group, a Denver firm prominent in the field of Colorado elections law. Gessler worked at the firm before being elected last year to a post in which he oversees elections.
Gessler’s spokesman, Rich Coolidge, said Gessler will work about 20 hours a month on property disputes, not election matters that may come before his public office.
Coolidge said Gessler doesn’t earn enough on the secretary’s $68,500 annual salary to cover expenses, though Coolidge didn’t say how much Gessler anticipates earning from the firm.
“He’s got a young family, and he just took a pay cut to take this job. It’s real life,” Coolidge said.
But Gessler’s side job, first reported Friday by the Denver Business Journal, prompted howls of protest from left-leaning interest groups that say the public can’t trust that Gessler won’t improperly share his expertise in elections law with a private employer.
“He’s running Colorado’s elections and has to be above reproach. Trust is a big piece of his relationship with the public. This is not a good start for him,” Ben Hanna of the Colorado Progressive Coalition said in a statement after the Business Journal reported Gessler’s new job.
Coolidge pointed out that Gessler will notify the state attorney general about his legal activities to make sure Gessler doesn’t run afoul of conflict-of-interest laws.
Watchdog groups weren’t placated. The head of Colorado Ethics Watch, Luis Toro, blasted Gessler’s decision to take a side job with a firm that handles elections matters.
“The appearance of conflict is obvious when Gessler is getting paid by a law firm that regularly conducts business with the secretary of state,” Toro said.
Since taking office earlier this month, Gessler has backed a GOP plan in the Legislature to require Colorado voters to show photo IDs before casting ballots.
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