Address mix-up leads to 2nd CD accusations

Update: After further review, the Polis camp concedes that Corporate Advocates and Jep Seman had nothing to do with the attack ad. But further research found that Steve Adams, the man who is responsible, works for Colorado Communique, a group that represents BP Global among other companies.

"Our apologies to Mr. Seman," says Polis campaign manager Robert Becker. "We made the incorrect assumption that he was the big oil lobbyist behind the ads. It appears there’s a different big oil lobbyist behind the ad that happens to share the same office suite."

****

A new gloves-off television ad bashing Jared Polis’ record on education caused a stir today when a case of mistaken address briefly linked the political organization behind the spot to oil and gas interests.

Colorado Counts, a new 527 started in July by former union head Steve Adams, shares a mailing address with a lobbying firm that represents major oil and gas companies like Chevron and ConocoPhillips.

At first blush, the Polis camp questioned why oil and gas interests would be targeting their candidate and apparently supporting opponent Joan Fitz-Gerald, who has faced criticism for taking contributions from those companies.

Steve Adams, who started Colorado Counts, said the lobbying firm in question has an office three doors down from his but is totally unrelated.

And Jep Seman, head of the lobbying firm Corporate Adovates, said that all businesses on their floor shares the exact same mailing address.

Fitz-Gerald’s campaign immediately distanced itself from the ad, the first negative TV spot of a contentious and expensive race for the 2nd Congressional District.

Bookmark/Search this post with: