Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Dem candidate asks for criminal probe of GOP group

Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 12, 2006 at midnight

Text size  

More Airlines & Aerospace

More stories »

A Democratic Senate candidate has asked the El Paso County district attorney to prosecute a Republican political organization founded by the governor over an attack ad that rips the candidate’s record as police chief of Fountain.

John Morse said Tuesday that he takes no joy in the fact that TV and radio stations now are refusing to air the ad, which he says falsely criticizes his handling of a specific case.

The ad was produced by the Trailhead Group, which concedes it made a mistake in referring to felony charge as a misdemeanor charge.

But Trailhead director Alan Philp said the premise of the ad, that Morse as police chief had a "record of incompetence," is true.

Morse said the ad is false and he wants Trailhead prosecuted under a state law that makes knowingly lying about a candidate a crime.

He ripped Trailhead’s GOP founders, Gov. Bill Owens, former Senate candidate Pete Coors and former gubernatorial candidate Bruce Benson.

"To have a sitting governor and a former candidate for the U.S. Senate who is currently on probation for an alcohol-related offense involved with an organization that is engaging in criminal conduct is despicable," Morse said.

"We need to concern ourselves with illegal immigration, but we should also concern ourselves with illegal Republicans, especially when they’re violating laws concerning the very basic foundation of our nation, and that is free, fair and open elections."

Trailhead is a so-called 527, named for the section of the federal tax code that allows political groups to collect unlimited donations. The groups cannot coordinate with the candidates they suport.

Morse is trying to unseat Republican Ed Jones in District 11 in a race that could determine which party controls the Senate next year. Democrats currently have an 18-17 edge.

Morse served as police chief from 2002 to 2004.