Messenger: Better Jobs Coalition

Candidate: None

Contest: none

Affiliation: U

Date delivered: July 11, 2018

Click here for message

Message type: radio ad

Message tone: informative

About the message: This is one of two radio ads airing in Colorado Springs urging people not to sign initiative petitions because they could lead to identity theft. This ad features El Paso County Commissioner Mark Waller, a former state lawmaker. It doesn't mention any specific initiatives

"They're at it again," Waller says. "Standing on street corners, in front of grocery stores asking you to give away your personal information to sign their political petition. Hi, I'm Commissioner Mark Waller asking you to think twice before you sign. Many signature collectors are funded by out of state special interests, and they're pushing a political agenda that is never as good as it sounds. And when you sign your name, all your information is in a public database accessible on the internet. Before you sign one of those petitions, ask the tough questions."

Petitions for initiatives are submitted to the Secretary of State for signature verification, and they are public record (as is voter registration). But the Secretary of State doesn't post the petitions and signatures online.

About the messenger:

Better Jobs Coalition is an independent spending group formed by Rick Enstrom, a Republican operative. The group formed in 2016 and supported Republican legislative candidates. The group often gets involved in Republican primary elections and also supports Republcians in general elections.

The messenger's money:

In 2020, much of the group's money is coming from a nonprofit by the same name, meaning it's impossible to tell who the individuals behind the money are. The group is also getting large donations from other nonprofits, including Ready Colorado, a conservative education reform group, and Western Citizens Protecting Our Constitution.