Maes' campaign has reimbursed family $71,658

The Denver Post (online edition) ^ | 10/20/2010 | Karen E. Crummy

[ironwill]

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes' second-biggest campaign expense is . . . Dan Maes and his family.

The Evergreen businessman, who sold his credit-reporting company last year and has been running for office full time since March 2009, has been reimbursed $71,658 from his campaign. His daughter Jordan, his executive aide, has been paid $14,101 for work and some expenses, according to a Denver Post analysis.

The total is nearly 30 percent of the $304,000 Maes has raised. His top expense is advertising, which totals $113,338.

The amount of Dan Maes' expenses, which include mileage, travel, phone, food and drinks for fundraisers, "misc expenses," subscriptions, parking and trips to Wal-Mart, may be unprecedented, said the Colorado secretary of state's office.

Additionally, some of the expenses were months out of date when reimbursement was requested. For instance, on his May 2010 report, he listed a reimbursement for $3,400 spent on Feb. 19, 2010. The money was for: $495 for a facility rental eight months earlier, in June 2009; $88.45 for thank-you cards; 2009 mileage with no miles listed; $158 for signs from 2009; and $325.60 in postage.

Maes said the campaign doesn't have a credit card because it's a "cash and carry" operation. Although he said he could not comment on specific reimbursements, he said generally most of the money was for mileage.

"Every once in a while we might have left a wallet home and had to use a personal check or cash," Maes said.

Maes paid a record $17,500 fine in August for campaign-finance violations, which included improperly recording mileage costs.

In September, Maes was reimbursed $6,879 for mileage incurred by himself, his wife and his daughter.

Maes raised $22,000 from Sept. 30 to Oct. 13, bringing his total to $304,000. His second-largest campaign expense is advertising ($83,919) followed by consulting fees ($42,903), which include $10,000 in legal fees stemming from the campaign-finance violations. He has also spent $4,070 on food, $3,903 on travel and $15,396 on "unknown" and "miscellaneous" expenses.

American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo raked in $220,000 during that same period, bringing his total to $682,000. He has reimbursed himself $3,822 for advertising, office equipment and travel. His top expenses overall: $440,849 on advertising, $79,656 on fundraising and $32,349 on consultants.

Democrat John Hickenlooper raised $387,000 from Sept. 30 to Oct. 13, bringing his total for the campaign to $3.7 million. He has not been reimbursed by his campaign for any expenses. His top three expense categories are $1.7 million in advertising, $843,959 for consultants and employees, and $419,825 in fundraising costs.

[Illuminatas]

Wadhams gets all the blame for this collosal FUBAR.

Here is my take. He should have begged Jane Norton to run for gov instead of the senate. Now, I know Jane has her issues that drive FR nuts, but she would be infinitely better than Hick or Maes.

I voted for Tanc, personally. I am giving the finger to both the evil party and the stupid party.

[AuH2ORepublican]

It is not illegal for a candidate to pay himself a salary (with campaign money) while campaigning, but it is very rare. What is illegal is for a candidate *not* to pay himself a salary with campaign money (so as not to have to pay income tax) but then claim phony “reimbursements” in order to use campaign funds for personal use. From the information in the article, Maes did the latter.

Maes appears to be a liar and a conman, and I hope that Colorado conservatives don’t throw the election to the ultraliberal Democrat John Hickenlooper by voting for Maes instead of for Tom Tancredo.

[muawiyah]

Well, maybe, but we aren't quite into the period of time where you have to pay income taxes for the current year, but that's coming no doubt.

You don't want to sound like those crazoids all upset about indigent women not paying income taxes on alimony and childsupport they'd never received from their runaway husbands (who filed income tax statements that said they'd paid it).

Maes is easily dealt with on the issues. As far as character goes aren't all these pukes crooks and conmen anyway? Like that's never been anything to hold against any particular candidate.

I think in the future Republicans in Colorado should straighten up their act and figure out if they want to be a party, or just go to a party.

[AuH2ORepublican]

No, Maes’s character is worse than even that of a typical politician. Maes repeatedly lied about his résumé and background, and, lo and behold, the media didn’t pounce on him until after he had won the GOP nomination. If he was a real conservative, he would have dropped out.

[proudpapa]

Let’s compare:

Tom Tancredo has paid $32,349 on consultants.
John Hickenlooper, $843,959 for consultants.

Which one would you trust with your money?

[CodeToad]

No one vetted the dork. If the TEA Parties want attention, and I fully believe in their cause, they had best do a better job than to recruit such criminals as their posterboys.

[muawiyah]

Not at all in the class of so many politicians who finance their first primary run by stealing a widow's trust fund.

Get real ~ this guy is not at all noted for stealing, lying, cheating ~ doing all that stuff that Andrew Cuomo has been into. Not that he should be running for office in the first place, but you'd have a difficult time making any criminal charges stick.

[ironwill]

Maes paid a record $17,500 fine in August for campaign-finance violations, which included improperly recording mileage costs.

Sounds to me like he did a no-no.

[muawiyah]

Technical violations happen all the time. Quite frankly all this concern over where they get the money and how they spend it is ridiculous and stands in the way of real democratic behavior.

[beaversmom]

I’m not a regular listener of Rosen’s, but I did hear him say he was voting for Tancredo. Also, he’s on the long list of endorsers from Tancredo’s FB page:

Endorsements for Tancredo copied from his Facebook page:
•Mike Rosen, Radio Talk Show Host

•Amy Oliver, Radio Talk Show Host and Director of the Colorado Transparency Project

•State Senate Minority Leader Mike Kopp

•Republican State Representative Cindy Acree

•Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson

•Elbert County Sheriff William Frangis

•Montezuma County Sheriff Gerald Wallace

•Tron Simpson, Radio Host

•Former Republican State Senator and Senate Majority Leader Tom Blickensderfer

•Former Republican State Senator Ed Jones

•Former Republican State Representative Mark Cloer

•Kelsey Alexander, Former Douglas County GOP Chair

•Mary Frangis, Conservative Activist

•Ben DeGrow, Conservative Blogger

•Erick Erickson, Redstate.com

•Jimmy Sengenberger, Regis University radio host

•Tea Party Patriots of Denver group endorsement

•Mike Short, Tea Party Patriots of Denver

•Judson Phillips, Tea Party Nation

•Hear Us Now! (Denver Tax Day Tea Party) group endorsement

•Rossputin, Conservative Colorado blogger

•Isaac Smith, grassroots activist

•Bob Schaffer

- Colorado State Board of Education Chairman and former Republican Congressman

•Bob Beauprez

- Former Republican Congressman and State Republican Party Chair

•Joel Hefley

- Former Republican Congressman, El Paso County - 5th Congressional District

•Lynn Hefley

- Former Republican State Representative, El Paso County

•Cheri Gerou

- Republican State Representative

•Marsha Looper

- Republican State Representative

•Greg Brophy

- Republican State Senator

•Ted Harvey

- Republican State Senator

•Josh Penry

- Republican State Senator & Former Minority Leader

•Shawn Mitchell

- State Senator

•Steve King

- Congressman, (R-IA)

•Mike Sheeley

- Former 7th Congressional Republican Candidate

•Bo Cottrell

- Former Arapahoe County Republican Chair

•Tory Brown

- Former Arapahoe County Republican Chair

•Rick Grice

- Former Arapahoe County Republican Men’s Club President

•E.E. Casey Hayes

- Former Democrat State Representative

•Eric Prinzler

- Former Republican State Representative

•Frank DeFilippo

- Former Republican State Representative

•Bruce Cairns

- Former Republican State Senator

•Cliff Dodge

- Former Republican State Senator

•Matt Dunn

- Former State House Candidate

•Chris Paulson

- Former State Representative/House Majority Leader

•Andy McElhany

- Former State Senator/Senate Minority Leader, El Paso County

•Michael Brown

- KOA Talk Show Host

•Jon Caldara

- President, Independence Institute, and KOA Talk Show Host

•Keith Peterson

- chairman and co-founder, Hear Us Now! (organizers of the 2009 and 2010 Denver Tax Day Tea Parties)

•Francesca Subramanian

- co-founder and board member of a local liberty group

•Brian Pike

- co-founder and former president of Revive Our American Republic (ROAR)

•Mitch Knutson

- co-founder, Coffee4Conservatives

•Margo Knutson

- co-founder/developer, Coffee4Conservatives

•Brian Campbell

- co-organizer, first Denver Tea Party rally 2/27/09, co-organizer of the 2009 Denver Tax Day Tea Part

•Maria Fullinwider

- co-organizer, Genesee Conservatives

•Patricia Bechtholdt

- co-organizer, Genesee Conservatives

•Annette Cole

- co-organizer, Rocky Mountain Tea Party

•Grace Charree

- co-organizer, The Original Colorado Tea Party, and organizer of the Rocky Mountain Tea Party

•Kathy Baker

- co-organizer, The Original Colorado Tea Party, former co-organizer, Evergreen/Conifer Tea Party

•Jen Raiffie

- conservative activist and Adams County Republican precinct committee person

•Michelle Malkin

- Conservative Blogger/News Commentator

•Katherine Vitale

- conservative grassroots activist

•Retired Col. David Hughes

- Democrat Activist , El Paso County

•Gary Bohall

- El Paso County Republican Activist

•Joe Wilson

- Erie Mayor

•Rose Evans

- Former Administrative Officer, EPA Denver (Reagan Administration)

•Lynne Cottrell

- Former Arapahoe County Republican Chair

•Nathan Chambers

- Former Arapahoe County Republican Chairman and current Republicans for Tom Tancredo State Chairman

•John Ransom

- former Douglas County GOP chair and grassroots activist

•Dan Kopelman

- Former President of Denver Metro Young Republicans and Former President of Jewish Republicans of Col

•Jimmy Lakey

- Former Republican candidate for Congress and KNUS host

•Jim Welker

- Former Republican State Representative

•John McElderry

- Former Republican State Representative

•Lauri Clapp

- Former Republican State Representative

•Matt Knoedler

- Former Republican State Representative

•Pam Rhodes

- Former Republican State Representative

•Rob Witwer

- Former Republican State Representative

•Ruth Prendergast

- Former Republican State Representative

•Jim Reeves

- Former Republican State Representative and former Arapahoe County Assessor

•Joe Stengel

- Former Republican State Representative and Minority Leader

•Hugh Fowler

- Former Republican State Senator

•Maynard Yost

- Former Republican State Senator

•Steve Durham

- Former Republican State Senator

•Tom Wiens

- Former Republican State Senator

•Cliff Bryan

- Former State Representative

•John Herzog

- Former State Representative

•Steve Erickson

- Former State Representative

•Virginia Young

- founder, Broomfield 912, founder and co-organizer, In God We Trust 912

•Nancy McKiernan

- founder, Tea Party Brewing

•Mike Dunafon

- Glendale Mayor Pro Tempore

•Cinamon Watson

- GOP Strategist

•Brian Wilson

- grassroots activist

•Guy Pacot

- grassroots activist

•Leslie White

- grassroots activist

•Nancy Wenlock

- grassroots activist

•Rob Timmons

- grassroots activist

•Michael Jude

- Heritage Foundation Member

•Janet Rowland

- Mesa County Commissioner

•Mark Levin

- National Talk Radio Host

•Jenny Hatch

- opening speaker for the first Denver Tea Party rally 2/27/09 and organizer of the Constitution Tea P

•Abigail Keating

- organizer, Clear Creek Tea Party

•Mr. & Mrs. Marak Kudlis

- Parents of Marten Kudlis

•Eric Field

- Past President, Colorado Jewish Republicans

•Crista Huff

- political teacher/writer

•Karen Kataline

- President, Jewish Republicans of Colorado

•Sunny Roseman

- Radio Show Host KLZ Radio 560AM

•Charcie Russell

- Republican Activist

•Steve Schuck

- Republican Activist

•Ted Martin

- Republican Activist, Arapahoe County

•Jim Dyer

- Republican Arapahoe County Commissioner

•Glenn Rhoades

- Republican Education Activist

•Spencer Swalm

- Republican State Representative

•Russell Pearce

- Republican State Senator, Arizona

•Jay Lower

- Retired Executive Director, Colorado Contractors Association

•Robert Marshall

- secretary, Hear Us Now!

•Lou Schroeder

- State Chairman, Democrats for Tom Tancredo, Arapahoe County

•Mick and Vickie Murray

- Tancredo area captains for North El Paso County and grassroots activists in the conservative movemen

•Phil and Marge North

- tea partiers from Evergreen

•Craig Jones

- treasurer, Hear Us Now!

• Charles Patricoff

- vice-chairman, Hear Us Now!

•Sheriff Joe Arpaio

[r9etb]

Reading a Tancredo thread earlier this morning and someone on FR said they are voting for Hickenlooper. They were dead serious.

I wouldn't vote for Hickenlooper in a million years. And it would be 999,999 years before I voted for Tancredo.

The hippo at the zoo has my vote.

[ironwill]

By itself, it may be nothing but a ‘technical violation’ but when added to all his other skeletons in the closet, it reveals more of who Dan Maes really is and why he’s not a good choice for Governor for the State of Colorado. From the Freda Poundstone issue, to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation story and others, he’s hiding too much to be trustworthy...even for a politician.

[r9etb]

By itself, it may be nothing but a ‘technical violation’ but when added to all his other skeletons in the closet, it reveals more of who Dan Maes really is and why he’s not a good choice for Governor for the State of Colorado.

Absolutely correct.

HOWEVER.....

The Maes incident highlights a fundamental weakness of the Tea Party movement, as it's currently constituted.

Maes was their boy -- primarily, it seems, because he was an outsider, and he knew how to say all the right things. His Tea Party supporters had no way to vet him as a candidate.

The Tea Party needs to get serious about organizing itself, if only to be able to vet candidates.

Not that the Colorado GOP has done much better -- their boy was Scott McInnis, who was also taken out by a scandal.

[Red Steel]

Maes has to bleed about 6% more of the polled who then move over to Tancredo for Hickenlooper to lose.

[muawiyah]

The other stories can be evaluated a number of other ways. As is frequently the case folks who get roped into "under cover work" end up being distanced by the cops once they are done with them.

Just the way it is.

I've heard essentially the same story Maes tells from others.

Lesson to you is don't trust the cops ~ collect your reward beforehand.

[A.A. Cunningham]

who was also taken out by a scandal.

Which wasn't a scandal five years ago when the alleged plagiarism occurred. It only became a scandal when Muhammad Ali Hasan's mommy and daddy decided to make it one; after Muhammad's latest failed attempt at running for state office, in 2010 with a lot of help from the leftstream media which is in the bag for Chickenlooper.

If it were really a "scandal" and he had been "taken out" as you continue to attempt to portray it, McInnis would have lost the primary by more than 1.3%. Most intelligent people saw through the charade.

[r9etb]

McInnis was running far ahead of Maes until that scandal hit. It had an effect.

And it was plagiarism.

Most intelligent people don't try to defend a guy for taking $300k for somebody else's work....

[topher]

You may to pray that he exits the race.

Sounds like he wants to get more money for running for office, so maybe the National and State GOP should disown him as their candidate.

Of course, since he won the GOP primary, that would be hard to do.

Maybe he will have to be thrown in prison so Tancredo will be sure to win...

[ModelBreaker]

“After reading this, is there any wonder Tancredo will be the next Governor of Colorado?”

That is way over-optimistic. The race between Tancredo and Hickenlooper is tight as a tick, at best. If I’s break for Tancredo AND Tancredo is able to peel of 2% (out of 12%) of Maes remaining supporters, he will likely win.

[ModelBreaker]

“Wasn’t Maes the Colorado Tea Party favorite? Going into the future, the various TP entities need to do a much better job of vetting, prior to handing out endorsements.”

Yes, he was. But Maes problems started coming out before the primary. The difficulty was that the party establishment had already sprinkled holy water (and a lot of money) on RINO Scott McGinnis for governor and had cleared out Josh Penry (a conservative) so that McGinnis could run for the nomination unopposed by any serious candidate. Before the primary, the polls suggested CO R voters were going to hold their noses and vote for McGinnis.

Then McGinnis had horrible ethics PR come out shortly before the primary (pretty clear plagiarism). So R primary voters had noone to vote for. A lot of them were pissed-off at the party establishment and voted Maes because he was the ethically challenged candidate who was NOT supported by the party establishment.

McGinnis was probably the more strategic choice because he could have been convinced to step down and have his position filled by a vacancy committee.

Whether a McGinnis nomination and subsequent vacancy committee nomination would have avoided the third party problem, though, is speculative. I cannot imagine a vacancy committee (composed of party insiders) nominating Tancredo. Party insiders have hated him for years because he upset their “don’t ever talk about illegal immigration” apple cart (George Bush would not appear on stage with Tancredo at rallies, for example, even though Tancredo was a sitting R congressman). All of their instincts would have told them to nominate another RINO—that’s what the party establishment in CO does. So Tancredo would likely have run anyway.