Troxell: I didn't know about Chamber group's spending

Mayoral candidate Wade Troxell says he didn't know about the Citizens for a Sustainable Economy, nor did he have anything to do with the $11,530 it spent to support his candidacy.

Citizens for a Sustainable Economy formed following recommendations by a Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce task force. The two share the same address and Chamber President and CEO David May serves on its board.

The pro-business not-for-profit organization spent more than $17,000 so far to support four candidates running in the April 7 city election. Most went to Troxell, a sitting city councilman. Its other spending was:

$2,351 to Ray Martinez, a District 2 candidate facing Nancy Tellez;

$2,164 to Eric Kronwall, a District 4 candidate facing Kristin Stephens;

$1,351 to Gerry Horak, the District 6 incumbent challenged by Carl Wangsvick.

Troxell, term-limited in his current District 4 seat, seeks the mayorship in a three-way race with Ward Luthi and Mike Pruznick.

City financial disclosures require independent groups to state which candidate or issue they are supporting or opposing.

Citizens for a Sustainable Economy spent the cash on mailers for the candidates and used RightOn Strategies, LLC, a New Hampshire-based political strategy firm. Its co-founder is serving as a senior advisor for U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's political action committee, according to its website.

Troxell said he hadn't heard of Citizens for a Sustainable Economy, nor knew about the money it spent to support the candidates, until he read about it in the Coloradoan. As a group making independent expenditures, Citizens for a Sustainable Economy is forbidden by law to coordinate with candidates.

Troxell said it's "great" that he is attracting further support — according to campaign finance reports, he is the most financially supported candidate by a wide margin — but was wary that the group could break from his campaign's "positive message for a vibrant Fort Collins and its future."

"Our campaign has very specific themes, messages and things that we're trying to do," Troxell said. "I'm just trying to, through our campaign and all the people involved in our campaign, keep that message before the electorate."

He said he hasn't seen any of the mailers, so he can't comment on what message Citizens for a Sustainable Economy may be pushing.

Its website advocates for a local government that is "small and efficient" and doesn't go into debt for "non-necessities," one that cuts red tape for new and expanding businesses and one that keeps taxes, fees and utility fees low, among other issues.

Independent spending for Troxell's candidacy

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