Secretary of State Gigi Dennis Clarifies Erroneous Information Regarding Newly Adopted Campaign Finance Rules

Denver CO, August 23, 2006 – Responding to a lawsuit filed Tuesday seeking to invalidate the rules, Secretary of State Gigi Dennis said volunteer workers for campaigns are clearly not included within the definition of “contribution” in the adopted rules.

“Allegations filed yesterday that new campaign finance rules bar volunteers from working for candidates are false and misleading,” Secretary of State Gigi Dennis said Wednesday.

Dennis termed the suit frivolous and a significant waste of taxpayer money and resources. She said her office stands “100 percent behind the rules and advocating transparency in elections.”

According to Dennis, the rule change was designed to clarify that any volunteer service – whether walking precincts, stuffing envelopes, providing accounting services or free legal advice - is not a campaign contribution.

Dennis pointed out that the notice for the rules, adopted on August 2, was given 60 days prior to a public hearing. Draft rules were published with that notice and final versions of the rules were published prior to the public hearing.

“Those filing the lawsuit had ample opportunity to review and comment on the rules,” she said. A number of individuals at this hearing suggested word changes they believed would better clarify the language, but no one suggested this new reading of the rule, including the attorney who filed this case.

The lawsuit contends that despite a constitutional provision – Section 3 of Article 28 – requiring campaign donations to be from legal sources (foreign business or individual contributions are barred) that it’s impossible to verify such information.

Dennis pointed out the rule requires committees to make “reasonable” attempts to assure a its contributions are from legal sources. Anonymous donations must be donated to charity and may not be used by committees. Donations from illegal sources must be returned.

Dennis reiterated that Amendment 27, approved by voters in 2002, clearly provides the Secretary of State with authority to adopt rules to enforce and carry out the provisions of campaign finance reform.