Two Years in Review

* Until Ethics Watch, no single group in Colorado used hard-hitting legal tools to aggressively target unethical conduct by state and local officials. Ethics Watch has filed eight complaints alleging criminal wrongdoing by Colorado elected officials, including Secretary of State Mike Coffman, Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, former congressman and gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez and U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaeffer. As a result of Ethics Watch's complaints, each targeted official's unethical actions were publicized and in many cases investigated by law enforcement.

* Ethics Watch has litigated four campaign finance complaints and currently has a case pending against Secretary Coffman at the newly formed Independent Ethics Commission (IEC), the first complaint filed with the IEC since its formation.

* In a major litigation victory for Ethics Watch, the Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed a precedent-setting ruling that promotes greater transparency in campaign finance spending. The case was originally brought, fought and won by Ethics Watch against Committee for the American Dream for violating Colorado campaign finance law in the 2006 state election.

* Ethics Watch has filed three audit requests with the Colorado state auditor, one of which resulted in a thorough audit of the secretary of state's office that exposed Secretary Coffman's violations of state law regarding disclosure of conflicts of interest.

* Ethics Watch filed a petition with the Denver District Court to require Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey to explain to the court his refusal to investigate possible criminal behavior by Colorado State Senator Andy McElhany in 2007. The court ordered the DA to submit a written response and, although the court ultimately deferred to the DA's discretion, Ethics Watch's petition successfully put all DAs on notice that turning a blind eye to the criminal violations of public officials will not be tolerated.

* Ethics Watch released Ethics Roundup: Colorado's Most Corrupt Public Officials 2008, an annual report that chronicles the unethical and illegal conduct of state and local public officials throughout the state. In this year's report, Ethics Watch featured eleven public officials whose ethical transgressions range from undisclosed conflicts of interest and public censure to campaign finance violations and assault with a deadly weapon.

SPECIAL 2nd ANNIVERSARY EDITION A Letter From Our Director This month, Colorado Ethics Watch is celebrating its two-year anniversary! During our short history and with very limited resources, Ethics Watch has played an integral role in exposing and publicizing the ethical transgressions of dozens of governmental entities and prominent public officials. Due to the diligent work of Ethics Watch, elected officials are no longer beyond reproach, political organizations are held accountable for skirting campaign finance laws, the use of taxpayer resources at the state and local level is carefully scrutinized and Coloradans now have a legal voice to combat government corruption. Our work in Colorado has only just begun. Over the next two years, Ethics Watch will continue to demand that judicial resources -- like the Independent Ethics Commission and district attorneys -- rigorously enforce ethics standards. Ethics Watch plans to expand its watchdog efforts across the state by reaching out to local community organizations and activists and by increasing its online presence. We will continue to empower citizens with vital information about the activities of state government by producing reports that both chronicle corrupt conduct and highlight models of good ethics. But we need your help in holding public officials legally accountable for unethical conduct. First, if you haven't already, please sign up for our monthly newsletter and become a member of our intelligence network by sending us tips about your local officials. Second, please consider making a financial pledge of support. Your tax-deductible contribution of $20, $200 or $2000 dollars could help us pay for an open records request or cover fees associated with our next lawsuit. It is easy to make a tax-deductable contribution. Please visit www.coloradoforethics.org for the latest news and actions and read on for highlights of our last two years. Third, please forward this email to your friends and colleagues. By doing so, you will help us grow and root in Colorado. I offer sincere thanks for your support. With your help Ethics Watch is making a pronounced difference, and is primed to be even more effective in fostering transparency, accountability and honesty in government in the years ahead. With thanks, Chantell Taylor Director Latest Actions An Ethics Watch complaint successfully forced the Senate Majority Fund, a Colorado 527, to disclose nearly $100,000 in previously unreported political ads and activities. Learn more here. Ethics Watch testified to the Independent Ethics Commission (IEC) regarding the IEC's proposed rules and submitted written comments. On July 11, the IEC accepted virtually all of Ethics Watch's recommendations and adopted a final set of rules. Learn more here. Ethics Watch called for the resignation of Jefferson County School Board member Vince Chowdhury after he was charged with assault on his daughter, resulting in a restraining order. Learn more here. Ethics Watch has now been approved by the Colorado Supreme Court Board of Continuing Legal and Judicial Education to sponsor continuing legal education courses for attorneys. Ethics Watch will present its first seminar titled "Ethical Obligations of Attorneys Involved in Political Campaigns," at the offices of Holland & Hart LLP in Denver on August 14 and Foster Graham Milstein Miller & Calisher LLP in Denver on August 20. Learn more here. How You Can Help Ethics Watch raises public awareness about government accountability, and exposes those who are misusing taxpayer resources. Tips from Coloradoans are integral to our work, as are individual donations from those who support our mission. Please consider supporting Ethics Watch with information or a donation or both, so that we can continue to research, identify and expose unethical behavior by our public officials. Submit a tip here. Make a donation here.		Two Years in Review * Until Ethics Watch, no single group in Colorado used hard-hitting legal tools to aggressively target unethical conduct by state and local officials. Ethics Watch has filed eight complaints alleging criminal wrongdoing by Colorado elected officials, including Secretary of State Mike Coffman, Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, former congressman and gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez and U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaeffer. As a result of Ethics Watch's complaints, each targeted official's unethical actions were publicized and in many cases investigated by law enforcement. * Ethics Watch has litigated four campaign finance complaints and currently has a case pending against Secretary Coffman at the newly formed Independent Ethics Commission (IEC), the first complaint filed with the IEC since its formation. * In a major litigation victory for Ethics Watch, the Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed a precedent-setting ruling that promotes greater transparency in campaign finance spending. The case was originally brought, fought and won by Ethics Watch against Committee for the American Dream for violating Colorado campaign finance law in the 2006 state election. * Ethics Watch has filed three audit requests with the Colorado state auditor, one of which resulted in a thorough audit of the secretary of state's office that exposed Secretary Coffman's violations of state law regarding disclosure of conflicts of interest. * Ethics Watch filed a petition with the Denver District Court to require Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey to explain to the court his refusal to investigate possible criminal behavior by Colorado State Senator Andy McElhany in 2007. The court ordered the DA to submit a written response and, although the court ultimately deferred to the DA's discretion, Ethics Watch's petition successfully put all DAs on notice that turning a blind eye to the criminal violations of public officials will not be tolerated. * Ethics Watch released Ethics Roundup: Colorado's Most Corrupt Public Officials 2008, an annual report that chronicles the unethical and illegal conduct of state and local public officials throughout the state. In this year's report, Ethics Watch featured eleven public officials whose ethical transgressions range from undisclosed conflicts of interest and public censure to campaign finance violations and assault with a deadly weapon.


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