Douglas Bruce wants his ten bucks back. But it doesn’t look like he’s going to get it any time soon.
Bruce, author of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, was fined $10 for not showing up to a board of El PasoCountycommissioners meeting in January 2008, the day he was sworn into Colorado’s House District 15 seat.
In levying the fine, the former board of commissioners said Bruce’s absence as a county commissioner was unexcused. Bruce contends it was excused – that his fellow commissioners knew about his new legislative job and that he would be gone.
Bruce had taken the oath for the State Representative office, unconventionally, though, postponing the action as long as possible to extend the potential length of the appointed term. And he did not step down as an El Paso Countycommissioner until after the swearing in for the state position.
Bruce told the current board of commissioners last week – at a time during regular meetings when anyone from the public can raise any issue with commissioners — he’s noticed that commissioners who have not attended recent meetings have not been fined for their absences.
The money, Bruce said, is a matter of principle, and he was disturbed over the pettiness and unfairness of the issue.
County Attorney Bill Louis volunteered to take Bruce into his office and give him $10 from his petty cash drawer.
Commission Chairwoman Amy Lathen said she wasn’t on the board when the matter came up and wasn’t willing to do that.
So that’s where the issue stands now, nearly four years later.
Go to jail, go directy to jail, do not collect $10.00 and pay the taxes you owe.
I have a voice mail from Mr. Bruce in which he vows never to talk to me again. How much is that worth?
Mr. Noreen, if you could bequeath it to the city, it could be worth a lot.
Basic probloem is that our local newspaper(?) continues to give coverage to this nonsense. How about covering the news Gaztte?
you go Bruce, if it was not for you , the past two mayors and city council would have turned CS into Greece like economics
Real news, please.
The Gazette continues to cover sideshows and distractions similar to those tabloids in the supermarket checkout lines while major stories that can affect every American such as the economic crisis in Europe can be found on other news sources.
When the Gazette ultimately folds, it will be due to a long list of stories over the years such as this one, Lindsay Lohan, the marriage breakup of Demi and Ashton, and other petty grade school gossip.
Real news, please.
How is this news-worthy? Good job Gazette! The all time kings of making mountains out of mole-hills!!!
Good for Bruce. Givernment seems to think they are above the law. It is good to have Bruce as a check and balance to a corrupt system. Give them a spanking Bruce.
Barry, No one wants to talk to you. you are a has ben burnt out reporter that is boring and worthless.
Pay him the damn $10 and everyone move on to bigger more important things.
The petty bickering that stems from our politicians is an insult to every taxpayer who contributes to their salaries.
Steve:
The reason this region is where it was 8 years ago and faces a bleak future is the ‘petty bickering’ you refer to. That defines local government.
Stay Classy Doug. Oh, and does anyone thinnk we aren’t in a fiscal, social and infrastructure crisis here in Colorado Springs?
I would be glad to give Doug the $10.00 if the city/county would give back to the people of El Paso/Colorado Springs the $110,000 they spent on “Live It Up”.
Why doesn’t the Gazette publish the real reason Mr. Bruce was at the County Commissioners meeting? The public would be interested to know.
Yea, what Pat says!
And, GIVE THEM HELL DOUG! The scum deserve all the trouble we the people can foist upon them. Don’t forget the corrupt, scumbag City Council too.
“… from all enemies, foreign and domestic, …”
Knowing Bruce’s long history of NOT paying fines and fees (not to mention his current tax evasion indictment), he needs to produce a receipt first.
Incidentally, this case is beyond the statute of limitations.
@ Barry Noreen: another idle threat. Remember when he promised to divest all his properties and concentrate on TABOR? 12 years later he’s still a slumlord. Remember…
2. Vowing never to return to Denver after code violations, only to return years later to assault a reporter, insult veterans and hispanics and be censured?
3. Vowing never to entertain lobbyists, only to pay mercenary petition carriers?
4 – 50. etc., etc., etc.
Has this reporter been reading Chacon to much….drama at its best.
Well Pat, why don’t you tell us the reason for his attendance at the meeting instead of waiting on the Gazette?