November 30, 2016 02:41 PM UTC

Darryl Glenn's Unfortunately-Named Consulting Firm Highlights Old Problem

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• by: Colorado Pols

You may have missed the news earlier this week that El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn, fresh off his “campaign” as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, is opening his own political consulting firm. As the Colorado Springs Gazette reported on Monday:

The El Paso County commissioner said DLG Esquire Attorney at Law will focus on assisting strategic policymakers, business and neighborhood leaders in “implementing innovative solutions to growing community challenges.”

“My experience as a county commissioner has taught me that the best ideas often come from our neighbors, church groups and community. But turning a great idea into a reality takes knowledge and ability,” Glenn said in a statement. “That’s where DLG Esquire comes in. Our team takes an idea and gives it life.” [Pols emphasis]

Glenn’s firm will help clients navigate the initiative, social enterprise and campaign processes, according to a news release.

We can all agree that “DLG Esquire” is a horrendous name for any business that isn’t an escort service; try telling your boss that you want to hire “DLG Esquire” for any reason and make sure to let us know how that conversation turns out. Of course, if you’re interested in paying Darryl Glenn for political advice (or to come up with advertising ideas) then the name you write on your check is probably the least of your problems.

But there is a larger issue at play here regarding outside employment for full-time elected officials in El Paso County. Back in 2011, the Colorado Springs Independent ran a well-sourced story trying to understand why full-time elected officials in Colorado Springs are allowed to moonlight in any capacity…and guess who showed up with a quotation?

Just because El Paso County’s elected officials are paid $87,300 a year doesn’t mean they can’t have second jobs. Several do. Two own law firms, another runs a bed and breakfast, and yet another works in real estate.

No law or policy bans such moonlighting, or even requires officials to divulge those outside interests, although the four officials referenced above have done so. And with no mandate for disclosure — unlike in city or state government — there’s no way for voters to know when county elected officials might encounter a conflict of interest between their public and private roles…

…Commissioner Darryl Glenn, who took office last month, says county officials should have to report private interests and assets, like City Council members must, and also disclose potential conflicts. (“I don’t have any,” he says.) Similarly, state officials are required to report sources of income and ownership on personal financial disclosure forms.

Glenn still has his hand in two businesses. He helps his wife run the Ultimate Fitness Zone “in the evening and on weekends.” And he retains ownership of Glenn Law Firm PC, despite serving as the commission’s liaison to the court. He says he has “restructured” his role in the firm and no longer takes cases, leaving his wife as sole litigator, “because I have to interact with the chief judge.” [Pols emphasis]

Need a key vote from an El Paso County Commissioner? It wouldn’t be a bad idea to hire Glenn’s consulting firm in the meantime; go ahead and try to argue that this isn’t a blatant conflict of interest.

Some Colorado municipalities do have policies in place that discourage outside employment when you are being paid a full-time salary for a full-time job, but this is a policy that should be implemented and enforced at a statewide level. While it’s true that the term-limited Glenn won’t be serving on the El Paso County Board of Commissioners for much longer, it’s completely absurd that he is allowed to operate a political consulting firm while simultaneously casting votes on behalf of residents of one of Colorado’s largest counties.