June 07, 2007 04:40 PM UTC

Nonstop Parade of Jeffco Scandals

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• by: Colorado Pols

The Denver Post reports today:

In the waning days of 2006, Jefferson County Treasurer Mark Paschall invested about $70 million in taxpayer dollars through an acquaintance.

The legality of four of the five investments – collateral mortgage obligations, or CMOs – has been questioned by county and state officials…

Faye Griffin, who succeeded Paschall as treasurer, said she learned of Paschall’s purchases – done without consulting the county’s investment officer – within days after taking office in January.

Griffin brought the situation to Kennedy’s attention. About $64 million is at issue.

Paschall, who was indicted this year for theft in an alleged kickback scheme involving a former top aide, said Wednesday that he had no comment…

While you’re wondering what motivated Paschall to furtively invest this money just before leaving office (several corrupt possibilities spring to mind), and how much other county officials may have known about it, let’s not forget about the Denver Post’s report on Jeffco’s “Kings of Corruption” from yesterday:

Outside counsel paid for by taxpayers will represent Jefferson County Commissioner Jim Congrove as an individual in a lawsuit filed in late May by a former Arvada bank employee…

State law requires representation under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, which protects government officials “when acting within the scope of their duties,” Wakeman said.

The lawsuit filed by Lori Stille names the board, a private investigator and Congrove as defendants. Congrove is accused of harassing and threatening Stille and her daughters shortly after he took office in 2005.

Stille contends Congrove was upset about Stille’s relationship with county critic Mike Zinna, who has sued the county and commissioners several times, and what he knew about Congrove’s finances.

“It’s sad. It’s the same old lies,” Congrove said Tuesday. “What a waste of money when we’re trying to make budget cuts.”

Or, the abusive and legally questionable shenanigans Congrove and his fellow Jeffco Commissioner Kevin McCasky have engaged in for years against their various detractors could be what’s “sad.” Either way, Jefferson County government is reeling from the combined weight of these scandals, perhaps the worst spate of bad press in its history –and many obvservers predict it will get much worse before the dawn.

Kevin McCaskeyKevin McCasky