Greeley man files election complaint against Paccione

A Greeley resident filed a federal complaint against Rep. Angie Paccione, D-Fort Collins, on Monday.

The complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission in Washington alleges Paccione violated federal election law when an e-mail from her campaign offered free vacations to contributors.

"Seeing what she had done I thought something ought to be done," said Ron Buxman, 50, of Greeley. "It may have even been a staff person who did this and I understand. But, the buck still stops with you, even if someone below does it."

Everyone involved with the campaign should be informed about all the rules, said Buxman, vice chairman of the Weld County Republicans.

E-mails sent Feb. 23 listed team contribution incentives that included free travel to Washington, dinner with Paccione, introduction on the House floor and other things. Paccione is running against U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., for Musgrave's Congressional District 4 seat.

When the e-mails surfaced, Paccione denied knowledge of them before they were sent.

Eleven people filed a state ethics complaint against Paccione on March 8. House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, and Minority Leader Mike May, R-Lakewood, decided not to refer the complaint to the House Ethics Committee, because they said there was not evidence she abused her office when the prizes were offered.

Paccione could not be reached late Monday.

Joanna Larez