Posted on 10/23/2007 9:37:14 AM PDT by george76
At the behest of the Mesa County Republican Party, the Colorado Republican Party voted to censure its attorney, John Zakhem, for making a contribution to incumbent Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction.
Zakhem, whose law firm, Zakhem Atherton, represents the Colorado Republican Party, said he was surprised to hear about the central committee’s vote to censure him. Nonetheless, he said he was happy to hear a motion to terminate his service with the party... was defeated in a voice vote.
Zakhem’s Aug. 28 donation of $400 to Buescher’s re-election campaign sparked outrage among the ranks of the Mesa County Republican Party last week.
The two $200 contributions, revealed in Buescher’s third-quarter, campaign-finance filings, became public knowledge the same day Collbran Republican Laura Bradford announced she plans to challenge Buescher in the 2008 election.
“I’m trying hard to do my job, and I’m just sorry the Mesa County Republicans were so irked over it,” Zakhem said. “I regret how it looked for them, but there was no ill intent on my part.
“You play for the team that you’re on,” Baughman...
After the public disclosure of Zakhem’s contributions to Buescher, the Mesa County Republican Party severed all ties with the Front Range attorney
(Excerpt) Read more at gjsentinel.com ...
It would seem that the work he does for the GOP would outweigh the benefits to the DNC done by his contribution. Seems like the contribution would just be peeing in the wind.
It does sound like a conflict of interest.
Zakhem should not be making any contributions to Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction...if he wants to keep the Colorado GOP as a client.
A lawyer should know that he can not serve us and them at the same time.
Amen george! All our races are too important. If we want to retake the house and the senate we have to stick together. Rumor has it that Buescher will be Speaker after the next election if the dems retain the house. I’ve also heard that Zakhem lobbies.
I guess he has to decide which of his businesses, representing the COGOP or lobbying, is worth it to him, but I don’t want my donations going to support him, so that he in turn can support a democrat.
He should know better. His dad has been big in GOP politics for years.
The GOP wonders why GOP donations are down for their general fund ?
This is just one example on why we give our money to individuals and to specific issues.
Two things are incredible incomprehensible thus far:
1. Why only $200 a piece in donation to the Dem? $200 is squat. Its enough to become public but not enough to actually get anybody elected. So....what was this symbolic donation supposed to get this lawyer?
2. Why was this lawyer not brought on the carpet to defend his continued employment? Its one thing if some dude at his firm made the donation (but even then I’d still be worrying about data/strategy loss within the office), but since it was him personally there should have been more accountability beyond his ‘relief’ that it didn’t cost him a paying account.
3. Are there no other GOP lawyers in CO who don’t have some misplaced loyalty who could have lobbied to get the work?
The donation to the two-term Grand Junction lawmaker was reported one day before Republican Laura Bradford’s announcement that she plans to challenge Buescher in 2008.
Zakhem said he made the contribution because Buescher is a family friend and he was unaware of Bradford’s candidacy.
Buescher’s seat will be 1 of the GOP’s targeted seats in 2008.
State GOP chairman Dick Wadhams says Zakhem made a mistake, and party officials accepted his explanation.
http://www.kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=7248110
There seems much more to this story which may come out.
Why not get the BIL instead to donate some money ?
The lawyer would have known these donations were going to be reported ?
His dad is a long time GOP lawyer, so we are waiting for the rest of this story.
A RAT mole?
Thanks for pinging me. This presents a problem and I have forwarded it.
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