Accusations of Wasteful Spending Plague Secretary of State -- AGAIN
Accusations of reckless and wasteful spending are being made following a massive taxpayer-funded robocall campaign was greenlit by Colorado’s top election. The call, made Thursday evening to millions of voters, encouraged them to simply cast their 2023 ballot in the upcoming election.
The robocall, paid for by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, featured Secretary Jena Griswold voice, a Democrat who has faced backlash for her handling of previous election messaging campaigns. The 30-second message assured listeners that Colorado’s elections are being made safe and secure by her office and thanked them for participating in the democratic process.
The $50,000 campaign has been met with outrage and accusations of partisanship.
Conservative leaders are calling for accountability and transparency from Griswold’s office, questioning the use of taxpayer funds for political messaging and the potential bias in selecting a company with offices outside of Colorado.
State Senator Barb Kirkmeyer sent Griswold a letter expressing frustration and criticism towards the Colorado Secretary of State for spending taxpayer money instead of focusing on running a smooth election.
The senator points out that this is especially concerning because the state is asking voters to give up their TABOR refunds to fund the government. The letter asks for a speedy response and calls for Griswold to prioritize the voters' confidence in the election process.
“At a time when the voters are being asked to give up their TABOR refunds to fund state government, it seems incredulous you would spend money that clearly has confused voters when our primary objective should be to avoid voter confusion and to run an election voters can have confidence in.” said Senator Barb Kirkmeyer.
Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, expressed disappointment that not all county clerks were notified of the call in-advance. He also noted that some voters who had already returned their ballots were still receiving the call, causing confusion and frustration.
The timing of the call is also being questioned, as it comes amid a busy election week for county clerks. With only a few days left until the deadline to return ballots, clerks are already overwhelmed with voter inquiries. The last thing they need is more confusion caused by a government-funded robocall.
Wendy Holmes, spokesperson for Douglas County, stated that while their clerk’s office was notified beforehand, they did not receive any questions from voters about the robocall. However, critics argue that this does not excuse the lack of communication with other counties and the potential for voter confusion.
Griswold came under scrutiny last year for spending over $1 million on a TV ad featuring herself and a Republican former Secretary of State. Many saw this as a ploy for free airtime for her reelection campaign, which she ultimately won, while others viewed it as an unethical use of taxpayer dollars. The ad even prompted a new provision in an election bill, prohibiting the Secretary of State’s Office from using state or federal funds for advertising featuring declared candidates.
Despite not currently running for any position, Griswold’s office has already awarded a $1 million contract to a marketing company for advertising ahead of the 2024 election. The company, Marketing for Change, has offices in Virginia, Orlando, and Denver.
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With just days until the election, voters are reminded to pay attention to the source and motives behind any messaging they receive, and to stick to trusted sources for accurate election information.