Colorado GOP: Where Does the Money Go?
The Colorado Republican Committee’s latest FEC filing has been published—with some glaring omissions. The filing neglects to show any payroll disbursements to several staff members whose salaries are typically reported to the FEC.
Though insiders say that staff members were paid, the FEC filings tell a different story.
The Colorado GOP failed to report payroll disbursements for the following staff and consultants regularly employed by the party:
- Ian Lindemann, State Director (RNC staff)
- Paolo Sibaja, Strategic Initiatives Director (RNC staff)
- Jefferson Thomas, Deputy State Director (RNC staff)
- Tyler Hart, Chief of Staff (not RNC)
- Rob O’Regan, Political Consultant (received payments of $2000 in April, May, and June as reported to the FEC *plus* another $2000 payment in May per the Secretary of State quarterly filing for a year-to-date total of $8000 from both the state and FEC account)
- Polstar Strategies (Ryan Lynch’s political consulting business—received payments of $2000 in April and $10,000 in June and July as reported to the FEC *plus* a May payment of $4200 per the Secretary of State quarterly filing for a year-to-date total of $26,200 from both the state and FEC account)
- McCauley and Associates, (Former Utah GOP Treasurer Mike McCauley’s financial consulting business—regularly works with the Colorado GOP on FEC compliance issues)
Lindemann and Thomas however did receive travel reimbursements.
The filing also shows that Communications Director Owen Loftus was not paid in full, leaving a $2500 deferred payroll obligation.
The party has not yet reported one payment on the $70,312 in debt to Centennial Bank from loans taken from an unsecured line of credit.
The FEC filing shows that the RNC contributed $23,255 on August 3, 2015, but RNC backed staff received only $5902.81 in payroll and travel reimbursements.
The Colorado GOP raised $12,277 in actual donations during the month of August (not including the RNC transfer and postage refunds).
