Face The State Staff Report
State Rep. Jack Pommer's campaign finance woes continue to pile up. After forking over $15,000 last month to partially cover fines incurred over delinquent campaign finance filings, his latest campaign finance report is becoming a source of additional trouble.
Just days after writing a check out of his campaign committee account to cover the delinquencies, Pommer submitted his next report late as well. While the tardy report earned him an addition $50 in fines, contributions listed in the report indicate Pommer may have broken another law.
As Face The State recently reported, Pommer lists campaign contributions from registered lobbyists and special interest groups made on February 5, a date falling exactly a month into the legislative session. Under Colorado campaign finance law, it is illegal for lobbyists or special interest groups that lobby to give or solicit money for the campaigns of state office-holders while the legislature is in session. Under Section 1-45-105.5 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, lobbyists are prohibited from contributing to a member of the General Assembly who is also a candidate for office when the legislature is in session.
But according to one contributor listed in Pommer's first quarter report, at least one check listed by Pommer as being received in February was actually given six months earlier. Pommer lists a $400 contribution made by the Qwest Employees PAC as being received by his campaign on Feb. 5. According to Lisa Scharton, the registered agent for the Qwest Employees PAC, the check her organization wrote to Pommer was written and delivered August 8, 2008.
Meanwhile, according to Secretary of State spokesman Rich Coolidge, state law requires that candidates report the contributions when they are received, not when they are deposited.
Pommer has declined multiple interview requests from Face The State.