Critics Question Coffman Ties To Voting Machine Company

Democratic and government watchdog groups are criticizing Secretary of State Mike Coffman after finding a political consulting firm that works on behalf of his Congressional campaign is also a client of a voting machine manufacturer, according to news reports published today.

The consulting firm, Phase Line Strategies of Highlands Ranch, has helped Coffman throughout his campaign in the Sixth District race – Sean Tonner, the firm’s president, has been Coffman’s de facto spokesperson . Phase Line has also worked for Texas-based Premier Elections Solutions since August, according to the Rocky Mountain News.

The controversy comes days after Coffman decertified electronic voting machines in several counties , citing failed reliability tests. But he conditionally approved other machines, including those built by Premier Elections Solutions, news reports stated.

Coffman denied any connection between the consulting firm and his actions, telling the Denver Post he never met with Phase Line or Premier Elections Solutions during the certification process. He released an e-mail sent by one of his deputies in October denying a request by Phase Line to meet with him.

But Chantell Taylor, the director of Colorado Ethics Watch, told politickerco.com that her group will renew their call for the Denver district attorney's office to open a criminal investigation of Coffman. The group will also ask Gov. Bill Ritter to direct Attorney General John Suthers to open a similar investigation.

"This new situation just adds more evidence that Secretary Coffman has engaged in this pattern of either utter recklessness or planned and deliberate misconduct," Taylor said.

The liberal group ProgressNowAction asked Coffman to resign, and state Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak, in a statement, questioned Coffman’s ability “to guarantee Coloradans an honest and accurate elections process.”

Tonner defended himself and Coffman, telling the Rocky Mountain News that he and his firm worked for Coffman pro bono, even though Coffman had said earlier that his campaign “hired” Phase Line.

"Mike and I go back over 10 years. We were both Gulf War veterans. I would charge any hill for him," Tonner told the News. "There's nothing nefarious here."

Tonner and a spokesperson at the secretary of state’s office did not return phone calls Friday.