County GOP leaders accused of mismanaging the party

DENVER - Former leaders of the El Paso County Republican Party accused their successors of mismanaging the party Tuesday on the eve of its April executive committee meeting.

Internal documents reveal the party ended 2007 with a net loss in excess of $13,000. The minutes of the January executive committee meeting said the party spent over $122,000 while it raised over $109,000.

The high spending in a nonelection year has led some to question the leadership of county Chairman Greg Garcia.

Former Chairwoman Terry Kunkel said Garcia inherited $18,000 when she left office in February 2007.

"I left him smelling like a rose," she said.

Detractors criticize Garcia for hiring staff for jobs that used to be filled by volunteers. He declined to comment for this story.

"They have spent an inordinate amount of money on somebody who is in effect a pseudo-chairman," former county secretary Lois Landgraf said.

Landgraf was referring to executive director Nathan Fisk. Fisk was hired to manage the party on a day-to-day basis, while Garcia, who is a volunteer, focuses on fundraising.

Fisk said the party is far from being in the red.

"We are not in debt and have not been in debt since (the current party) administration came into office," Fisk said.

Last year was a good year for fundraising, and the party is on track to collect $400,000 for 2008, Fisk said.

The decision to hire full-time staff was part of a strategy to expand the party beyond its current core. Though El Paso County has long been a GOP stronghold, Republicans will have to expand their base to offset areas of the state that have shifted to the Democrats, Fisk said.

Fisk also dismissed concerns that the new leadership was being secretive by not releasing its budget, which he said has become more detailed since he was hired.

"Anyone who has wanted to see the budget has seen the budget," he said.

Kunkel is also displeased by her successor's role in trying to manage the often-bitter primary campaign for the 5th Congressional District. She felt it was inappropriate to bar candidates from distributing information at the county assembly unless they pledged to participate in the May congressional district assembly.

"It has divided the party locally," she said.

Fisk countered, "We've gone to great lengths to not be biased and to adhere to the bylaws."