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Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Longmont City Council reviews LLC campaign contributions
The Longmont City Council on Tuesday gave staff instruction to move forward with drafting an ordinance that would limit campaign contributions from limited liability companies under the Longmont Fair Campaign Practices Act. The intent is to amend the current LFCPA to clarify its language, thereby closing legal loopholes that allow a single individual who owns numerous LLCs to contribute the maximum amount from each of their entities, in addition to their own personal contribution. The proposed changes, if formally adopted later this year, would take effect Jan. 1, 2026. City Clerk Dawn Quintana walked council members through the current campaign finance rules and how they differ from those at the state and federal levels. 'Under the current LFCPA, the contribution limit for 2025 is $310 per person,' Quintana said. ''Person' is important because of the definition of person in our code, which is a natural person, a partnership, a committee, an association, a corporation or a labor organization or other organization or group of persons.' Quintana explained that both the Federal Election Commission and the Colorado Secretary of State's Office require that contributions from LLCs be attributed to individual members according to their ownership share. 'The FEC limits these contributions by having the contribution attributed to members, owners of the LLC, as related to their percent ownership,' she said. Longmont's current code does not include that limitation. Councilmember Sean McCoy raised concerns about the potential for abuse of the current rules. 'We had a candidate that ran for office and had several LLCs — LLC A and LLC B and LLC C, and down the line there,' McCoy said. 'That candidate did not win this time, and so I'm concerned that there'll be a time that that does occur, and I'm concerned that we need to head that off at the pass.' McCoy added the individual had 'deep pockets' and used multiple business entities to legally amplify their contributions. 'I just want to make sure that we're clean and fair and equitable and don't have that kind of image of less than squeaky clean,' he said. Councilmember Matthew Popkin expressed support for increasing transparency but raised questions about how the changes would be implemented. 'If this is a requirement, we just make it required,' Popkin said, referencing the draft language that allowed campaigns to submit LLC ownership disclosures only upon request. 'Let's just make it automatic, as some of the other reporting is.' Popkin also suggested that the proposed fines might not be strong enough to deter violations. 'From a logistics implementation standpoint, if this were to move forward, the fine seems a little bit low,' he said. Under the current LFCPA, civil fines for campaign finance violations are capped at $999 per violation. The proposed ordinance, as currently written, does not include a higher fine. 'If our intent is to discourage that, I wouldn't have a problem with this being enacted for this election cycle,' Popkin added, though he noted it was important that no candidate be given a retroactive advantage or disadvantage. Mayor Joan Peck pushed back against changing campaign finance rules in the middle of an election cycle. 'Changing rules in the middle of the stream is never a good idea,' Peck said. She asked staff to investigate whether previous changes, such as eliminating post office boxes, to address requirements, may have contributed to the recent lack of LLC contributions in city elections. After the discussion, McCoy made a motion to bring back an ordinance that would amend the LFCPA to limit contributions from LLCs in accordance with the proposed language in the July 1 council communication. The motion included a clarification that the new rules would apply starting Jan. 1 and that campaigns would be required to file disclosure affidavits identifying the ownership structure of any contributing LLCs. Councilmember Popkin seconded the motion. Councilmember Diane Crist raised a point of clarification during the vote. 'When you say 'as presented,' I think we still haven't decided whether we're filing the report with the clerk or whether the campaign is keeping the documentation,' she said. Quintana confirmed that the original draft only required campaigns to retain the records. 'If you prefer to make it required to file that report, we would just need that added into the motion,' she said. McCoy amended the motion to include the filing requirement, and Popkin agreed to the change. The amendment was accepted as a friendly clarification. The final motion, to return with a draft ordinance limiting LLC contributions, effective in 2026, and requiring disclosure filings, was passed unanimously. The ordinance itself will come before the council at a later meeting for a formal vote.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Colorado AG Weiser asks judge to shut down ‘fraudulent' company
DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a lawsuit against an allegedly fake company he claims was made to imitate a real business so that it could illegally cash a check made out to them. Weiser, who asked a judge to shut down the allegedly phony company and sell off its assets, argues a man filed fake articles of incorporation with the Colorado Secretary of State's Office in December 2022 for a company called 'ThyssenKrupp Materials LLC,' in an alleged attempt to imitate a real business named 'thyssenkrupp Materials, LLC.' Weiser joins coalition of Democratic attorneys general suing Trump administration The man also listed a residential home address that was not connected to the company and that he never owned as the company's principal office address, according to the lawsuit, which claims he did so because the property at the address was listed for sale in December 2022. 'Using the addresses of for-sale properties is a common tactic among individuals who register fraudulent entities,' the lawsuit says. Weiser argues that the man created a bank account under the name ThyssenKrupp Materials LLC at a bank in Pueblo and attempted to deposit a check from a vendor that had been made out to the legitimate company at an ATM. The vendor ultimately notified the legitimate business a few days later of the alleged attempted fraudulent deposit, according to the complaint. Program helps Colorado students stay safe in school 'Imposter scams are a growing threat to consumers and businesses alike and this case is the latest example of how we are holding fraudsters accountable,' Weiser said in a statement. 'This lawsuit sends a message to scammers who think they can pose as a legitimate business to make a quick buck that we are watching, we will catch you, and we will put you out of business.' The allegedly fraudulent entity has since fallen into delinquency with the state, according to the AG. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Karman Line Annexation protesters walk more than three miles across Colorado Springs
(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo) — The Citizens to Stop Illogical Growth, a group opposing the Karman Line Annexation proposition, which would bring about 1,900 acres of El Paso land into Colorado Springs, is making its voice heard. They walked more than three miles through the heart of the city on Saturday, May 3, roughly the same distance as the area that could soon be added to Colorado Springs. 'We are out to tell the community and show the community that this annexation of the Karman line is illogical and not good,' said Ann Rush, an organizer with Citizens to Stop Illogical Growth. The group's journey began at Acacia Park before walking down Platte Avenue with a straight shot to the Citadel Mall. Nick Raven came up with the idea to walk more than three miles, saying it's more than just traveling by foot across town. 'What this symbolizes is people coming together for a common cause,' Raven said. 'This is a grassroots, organized event. I didn't have anyone poking in my shoulder handing me a check to do this.' The group joined the Vote No on Karman Line March, and together they wanted to express their distaste against the annexation east of the city with this walk. They believe the negative impacts the project will have massive consequences on the city's water supply and also increase traffic. The groups want officials to invest in the city's current infrastructure, like streets, homes, and buildings along Platte Avenue. 'They could actually improve on it and really improve the quality of life for the residents who live around that area,' Rush said. Meanwhile, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade has backed the annexation. I offer my full support to our city council in reaffirming its previous decision to approve the Karman Line Annexation. Mayor Yemi Mobolade More recently, the Colorado Secretary of State's Office dismissed a complaint filed by the developers against the petitioners. Ultimately, it will be up to Colorado Springs voters to decide with a special election set for June 17th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
