By John Gaudio, Published, 09/01/2010
Some days I hate politics. Too much has been made of minor campaign contribution issues around Dan Maes. The important facts are undisputed. Nine months ago, Dan asked a supporter for financial help. She willingly helped him. Almost a year later they remember the details quite differently.
My father kept a cartoon on his desk for years. "There are three sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the facts."
Bottom line, as John Andrews said Monday evening, "[Dan]'s got fly specs, and no more than that, on his campaign finance filing. Those things are complicated. Anyone can make that mistake. Keep our eye on the ball. We need a conservative Republican governor, not a liberal Democrat. We need Dan Maes, not John Hickenlooper. Those are the alternatives. Those are the only alternatives."
[I'm sorry to say that Today, Thursday, 09/02/2010, John Adrews reversed his position. John told me at 4:50 PM that he "can no longer give Dan Maes the benefit of the doubt."]
I found the following explanation from Dan, through Google, in an html archive from http://DanMaes.com. Web sites change, and while I no longer find this item on Dan's site, it's still archived on Google. Here's the link. I've copied it below, reformatting it slightly to better fit my site.
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"This is the html version of the file http://www.danmaes.com/wp-content/uploads/dan-maes-the-facts-august2010.pdf.
Google automatically generates html versions of documents as we crawl the web.
The Facts About Dan Maes
Campaign Finance Matter Closed - No Misuse of Funds Occurred.
Evergreen, CO- July 12, 2010 - On May 5th 2010 Grand Junction resident Christopher Klitzke, with his attorney Erik Groves also of Grand Junction, filed a citizens complaint alleging that Dan Maes, Republican Designee for Governor in Colorado, had violated campaign finance guidelines. The complaint made allegations that would result in approximately $25,000.00 in fines for various alleged violations. After Maes had agreed to not contest the matter on July 2, 2010 and pay the fine Groves re-approached Maes' attorney, Steve Jones, with a proposal to reduce the fine amount. After days of negotiating, the matter was closed today. Maes agreed to a lower amount of $17,500.00 reflecting fines for four violations. The fine was assessed for failing to disclose expenditures of over $20.00 in a timely manner though no specific finance laws dictate what timely is. It also included failure to properly record the occupation of 9 contributors and incorrectly listing a non-monetary (in kind) contribution as corporate instead of personal. Allegations of improper payments to Dan Maes by the campaign account proved untrue.
"Our campaign grew very quickly and the demands on it exceeded the resources we had for professional accounting staff. After our contract accountant left our campaign abruptly after our Q4 2009 report was due, we were left to use an inexperienced volunteer to complete the report. We made some clerical mistakes that we regret", stated Maes. "Our campaign must take responsibility for these mistakes. We have taken steps to insure these mistakes do not happen again. It is important that our supporters and other Colorado voters understand that there were neither illegal contributions nor expenditures and every reimbursement made by the campaign to Dan Maes was a completely legal and appropriate reimbursement of resources loaned to the campaign throughout 2009," Maes continued. “Do the math, 80,000 miles over 16 months at a combination of .555 and.505/mile equals over $40,000.00. Many people do not understand the work load and travel involved in a statewide campaign.” "It is, however, obvious that this complaint was a politically motivated assault on our campaign and the grass roots voters, with the goal to drain our human and financial resources just as the primary season begins. It is a distraction from the serious issues facing the state of Colorado," Maes added. "We are ready to move forward and get to the real issues facing Colorado voters, and especially registered Republicans who deserve a debate between my Republican opponent and me. To date he has refused such a debate. The primary voters deserve to know the differences between us and he is denying them that privilege." Maes concluded.
Maes Resume Right On Track
I have never claimed to be a Fortune 500 CEO nor have I ever claimed to be a millionaire. My resume on line factually states my work history and it has always spoken to a small and medium business background including sales, sales management, managing partnership and small business executive. I am proud of my track record of building and turning around businesses in Denver, Western NY and Chicago.
I think many business people who have heard me speak wanted to think there was someone like them in the race. They wanted to believe in something greater than the career politicians and politics as usual. It appears they read more into my claims than was meant to be communicated.
Maes Personal Finances Reflect An Average Middle Class Family
As stated above, I never claimed to be a millionaire and I think many are tired of the millionaires who are out of touch with the realities of today’s economy. Success by definition varies from one family and person to another. I am also proud of the personal success I have attained after raising up from an austere childhood to where I am today. Like many, we choose to have my wife at home with our children. That makes for a difficult road for any one income family in our state. Over the years I have made in excess of$100,000.00 per year but that was during the corporate years. Once we returned to Evergreen we chose to simplify life. We also chose to start our own company. Contrary to what most think small business is about, it is not about fancy cars, lunching out, playing golf and making a lot of money in the first few years. It’s about sacrifice, low pay, and building equity.
Those who have lived by the W-2 all their lives don’t grasp the realities of starting a business from scratch. Give it a try sometime and you will have a new view of success than previously. Some will make that million but most will not until they sell their business and realize the reward of their years of hard work and sacrifice. Statistically this is the most common way to financial success for the small business person.
The Myth…Maes Can’t Win
I have heard this since day one. There was a concerted effort to convince people before the republican state assembly that I could not. In the week before the state assembly on May 22 emails, texts and robo calls went out to state delegates advising them that I could not win and guiding them to a website titled “Why Dan Maes Can’t Win”. The insiders threw thousands of dollars into this effort and guess what…WE WON. The people’s voices and actions are stronger than ever in recent history. The people are taking back their state and country and no one can stop that, not even the insiders and that is what has them in a fit.
Our victory at the state assembly was historic. I knew we would win based on the data. I now see similar data coming through as we approach the state primary vote on August 10, 2010.
Our campaign funding comes primarily from small donors. Our campaign account is not that of the insiders but it was enough to win the state assembly and it will be enough to win the primary. Our opponent out raised and outspent us 10:1. We still won. 2010 is a special and exciting year. All the rules have changed. Don’t listen to the media or the rumors. Call the candidate for the facts. I will give them to you. Scripture says, let you[r] yes mean yes and your no mean no. I commit to you that you will get straight answers.
The Liberal Kansas Police Department
My message from day one has been clear and consistent about my first job out of college being as a police officer in Liberal, Kansas. My goal was to live in Colorado and Liberal was only miles from Colorado. My intent was to stay there for 2 years and then complete the dream and move west. I was there from approximately Aug. 1983 until July 1985.
I am proud to say that I received an accommodation, referred to as an “At a Boy” for my excellent work on a citizen partnership between the Police Department and the Liberal Chamber of Commerce while there.
At one point in my 2 years there I was place[d] under cover by the Kansas Bureau of Investigations to gather information inside a bookmaking ring that was also allegedly selling drugs. I got too close to some significant people in the community who were involved in these activities and abruptly was dismissed from my position. I was blindsided and stunned to say the least.
Much like Cory Voorheez, I was a young officer caught in a situation that was much bigger than myself with no where to go. I am proud to say that I never participated in any illegal activity while undercover. Although this chapter of my life was yet another one where I fought the machine, I will not discuss the details any further as many who were involved in this situation are still alive and in new places in their lives and I want to protect them.
The Freda Poundstone Donation
As I clearly stated on KHOW radio when asked, I indeed did take a [$]300.00 donation from Freda one day. I did indeed meet her at her bank to do so. Fundraising is very challenging and it is not uncommon to meet donors personally to get donations. She wanted it done quietly and quickly and that is what we did. This occurred in approximately November of 2009 and we made a mistake by not understanding the rules about cash donations. Our treasurer at the time obviously did not post it or chose another route to logging it. Indeed, cash was very tight at that time and I was not bashful about helping Freda understand the great need for fundraising. She gave no more than the $300.00.
God Bless,
Dan Maes"
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Dan Maes isn't perfect. Not one of us is. He's a solid conservative with more business experience than political experience. He's made mistakes. He'll make more mistakes, and still, he'll be a much better governor than John Hickenlooper. As John Andrews eloquently said, "We need Dan Maes, not John Hickenlooper. Those are the alternatives. Those are the only alternatives."
Please support our Republican candidate for governor, Dan Maes. | 
