Traylor catches flak for check

Candidate says she tore up donation from teachers union

April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Friday, July 21, 2006

A political opponent of state Sen. Kiki Traylor has filed a complaint with the secretary of state alleging that Traylor failed to report a $1,000 campaign contribution from the Colorado Education Association.

In campaign filings, the teachers union's political action committee reported that it contributed $1,000 to Traylor's District 22 campaign on June 19, but the Littleton Republican did not list the contribution in the last reporting period, which ended June 28.

Traylor said she didn't report the $1,000 check because she had torn it up.

Cindy Loveland, of Lakewood, filed the complaint at the request of Traylor's primary opponent, Mike Kopp, asking the secretary of state to investigate and refer her complaint to an administrative law judge for a hearing.

The contribution from the teachers union has raised eyebrows among some conservatives because Traylor has said she supports school choice and vouchers for low-performing students - reforms the teachers union strongly opposes.

"She knows disclosing the contribution from the teachers' union could hurt her chances of winning this primary election," Loveland said.

Traylor said in addition to destroying the check she has declined the union's endorsement of her candidacy.

Under state law, candidates are not required to report contributions in the form of checks that are not cashed and deposited. They are required to report cash contributions.

Traylor accused Kopp and his supporters of engaging in dirty politics, and said their actions border on harassment.

"They started off by distorting my record. Now, I truly feel like they're harassing me," Traylor said. "We have a treasurer doing a great job. When we (deposit) a check, we report it. We are following the law."

Traylor faces two opponents in the District 22 GOP primary, Kopp and Justin Everett, in a race where the issue has become which candidate has the better conservative credentials. It has become one of the most contentious of the Senate primary races on the Aug. 8 ballot.

Kopp defended the complaint against Traylor as legitimate.

"The intent of campaign finance law is for full public disclosure so voters can see whose money is behind a candidate," he said.

Traylor has been at odds with the more conservative wing of her party since she was appointed to replace former Sen. Norma Anderson, a moderate Republican who resigned in January.

Dana Williams, a spokeswoman for the secretary of state, said the agency would refer the complaint to an administrative law judge.

Deborah Fallin, a spokeswoman for the CEA, called the complaint frivolous. She said the union sent a check to Traylor's campaign after a group of Jefferson County teachers endorsed her candidacy, which Traylor declined to accept.

Traylor is viewed as a proponent of public education, despite her support for vouchers and school choice for at-risk students.