born august conservative activist legislator state colorado known author colorado strict advocate limited government bruce wrote promoted spending limitation measure approved colorado voters associated measure attempts bypass restrictions known unsuccessful campaigns bruce eventually elected colorado county commission county commissioner bruce noted frequently falling losing sides votes disputes county staff fellow commissioners numerous occasions bruce appointed vacant seat december represented house district encompasses eastern kicking rocky mountain news photographer day sworn bruce legislator colorado history formally later removed house committee overseeing veterans affairs refusing sponsor ceremonial resolution honoring veterans defeated election term august republican_party primary bruce continued activism reduce government expenditures taxes colorado particular indicted decades worth criminal activity cheating colorado millions guise charity anti tax activism convicted counts indictment including counts criminal activity including money attempted improper influence public official tax fraud discovered small government charity founded hide millions dollars state department revenue sentenced february total days jail ordered pay total fines subject months probation includes extensive disclosure requirements early career born los_angeles california bruce graduated age double major history government completed law degree worked deputy district attorney resigning amid frustration court system bruce ran largely self financed campaign running 38th assembly district time centered running campaign slogan safe bruce ran local newspaper described law order primary campaign democrat bruce lost percentage points high turnout primary opponent narrowly lost general election republican colorado rental properties late 1970s bruce acquired number rental properties los_angeles area managed time leaving district attorney office late 1970s early 1980s bruce embroiled protracted tax disputes bruce acquired properties moved colorado permanently shortly moving colorado bruce changed political party affiliation democrat republican addition properties bruce acquired rental properties denver colorado cited repeatedly law code enforcement officials properties dozens brought overturned connection charge operating unsafe building bruce spent days jail contempt court citation response numerous complaints filed bruce questioned city code provisions accused city officials selective prosecution carrying personally bruce announced intended sell rental properties order devote time political activism cited keeping dilapidated properties recently bruce cited properties considered dilapidated windows boarded orders city charges ultimately dropped bruce sold buildings shortly august legislative primary declared owned bruce dilapidated bruce responded money repairing building sale early told bruce charge restart water service seven rental properties charge bruce said amounted political retaliation city staff justified noting properties abandoned bill rights similar tax limitation measures rejected voters previous decades bruce authored led campaign eventually successful bill rights colorado provisions mandated voter approval tax increases constrained state government spending grow rate greater rates population growth inflation pass garnering vote statewide reference bruce revised measure placed ballot received support attempt successful passed vote colorado constitution restrictions state spending triggered time resulting campaigns bruce primary spokesperson trading opponent colorado governor frequently cited incident likened proposal economic terrorism response bruce printed personal business cards reading passage bruce prominent political accomplishment years later bruce license plate read bruce wrote successfully passed similar spending limitation measure statewide local effects government finances led political science professor bruce influential colorado politician time passage hundreds local jurisdictions colorado sought voter approval temporarily permanently exceed spending limitations measures known reference author half colorado school district counties municipalities budget restrictions frequently cited officials bruce native resulting deficiencies health law enforcement administrative services state level creating financial difficulties higher education years tight budgets brought recession spending limitations budgetary obligations referred referendum statewide measure colorado voters bruce vocal opponent referendum facing supporters including supported original passage referendum ultimately passed voters authorized year time spending restrictions bruce threatened lawsuit state colorado referendum passed measure ultimately enacted law raising state revenue billion dollars following term state legislature bruce argued measure reverse spending restrictions bill rights initiative known divert given special fund education bruce opposed measure legislative hearings filed legal challenge house speaker primary proponent sought place measure colorado ballot citizen initiative measure ultimately placed november statewide ballot amendment bruce launched website opposing campaigns bruce attempt seek elected office colorado came bruce challenged incumbent republican state senator republican_party primary bruce lost powers went colorado state senate president bruce campaign powers bruce person banned powers ranch frequent site republican bruce ran unsuccessfully losing contested republican party primary ron republican district running slogan ron bruce bruce faced institutional opposition statewide republican leaders including governor supported initiatives ultimately won votes commissioner election bruce sought election colorado county commission winning republican_party nomination defeating party primary general election bruce defeated democrat republicans ran write candidates backing party leaders bruce won general election vote bruce self funded campaign refusing accept outside donations policy positions serving county commission bruce frequently opposition measures supported county commissioners cast vote implementing mail ballot elections county interference proposed incorporation falcon colorado opposed incorporation package road improvement projects recommended appointment building codes mobile homes awarding county grant anti poverty agency calling unsuccessful attempting reduce number paid holidays taken county employees instrumental lowering property tax rates negotiating expansion gravel pit operation spoke favor turning management county fair volunteer organization called number volunteer boards commissions reduced bruce outspoken support illegal immigrants went normal practice refusing support ceremonial resolutions support resolution favor creation office conflicts county staff commissioners bruce joined commission sought salary year directed charity campaign promise designating active citizens educational non profit helped found recipient bruce sought county income tax checks money directly charity receive direct personal benefit months arrangements county staff bruce agreed accept checks taxes withheld bruce attempted use non profit group donate copies local school districts distribute graduating seniors districts refused donation logistical grounds policies forbidding distribution external material nonprofit group purchased tens thousands copies constitution goal giving graduating high school senior colorado refused accept pass bribe objected introduction public prayer county commission meetings bruce objected inclusion alongside county commissioners plaque marking county support new courthouse expansion threatening physically remove plaque opposition financing methods courthouse driving factor county commission campaign bruce debating speaking style county commission meetings led occasional conflicts county staff commissioners year escalating series disputes commissioner led ruling meeting chaired bruce allowed discuss city politics bruce accused intervening county bidding process copying contract favor campaign supporter attorney denounced bruce supporting colorado amendment referendum designed ease rules measures election ballots bruce louis verbally louis called bruce tactics guerrilla louis announced plan limited power sure bruce tenure elected office comes end point good community colorado nation tensions rose bruce final weeks county commission sought vacancy committee appointment state legislature bruce criticized county staff inquiries sheriff responded accusing bruce morale county staff told bruce supported bid legislature order environment match statement applauded county staff final commission meetings bruce repeatedly cut commissioners comments members commission described behavior increase prior vacancy committee meeting activism june bruce called appear potential sexual assault trial jury selection process bruce distributed written support jury defense attorneys objected bruce actions presiding judge dismissed bruce potential received resulting week delay trial bruce authored measures issues appeared november election ballot reduced city sales tax rate eliminated property tax restricted city ability borrow money legality measures challenged city officials dispute rose ruled favor measures placement ballot bruce unsuccessfully contested editing statements support measures ballot voters claimed wording taxation measures election bruce subject criminal stemming charges campaigned tax increase polling place closer legal foot limit august man charged asked police stop signatures outside second time year bruce alleged attempted bully violate amendment rights charge city officials denied trial eventually held errors jury pool claims bruce selective prosecution day trial acquitted bruce later filed unsuccessful complaint alleging professional misconduct case prosecutor judge appointment swearing october bruce chosen republican contenders state house seat vacated following short contentious battle appointment bruce received thirds votes member vacancy committee eligible sworn immediately appointment certified bruce postponed oath office order eligible serve terms partial term colorado term limits rules action criticized republican democratic delay led enactment legislation requiring legislators sworn days selection bruce cast vote measure bruce demanded sworn house request denied republican democratic leadership individual swearing ceremony january house republicans voted representative named district bruce oath office end day morning sworn bruce kicked rocky mountain news photographer took bruce picture prayer bruce accused photographer violating order house refused apologize describing action instead tap member legislative panel recommended bruce house actions january house_of_representatives voted bruce representative recorded history state house formally legislative agenda session bruce named seats veterans session began bruce denounced house republican caucus legislative agenda socialism bruce similarly critical proposed state budget debated legislative session budget amendment proposals unsuccessful legislation introduced bruce died house committees including proposals distribute copies require instruction declaration independence constitution high school seniors prohibit counties assessing charges property taxes property tax bills raise legislative pay index pay inflation create panel draw colorado congressional legislative districts bruce routinely objected practice safety clause bills inclusion declares bill necessary immediate preservation public peace health safety law sooner prohibiting challenges legislation petition process offered amendments number bills remove safety clause failed account legislators personal hostility bills passed safety clause previous year bruce opposed proposals raise signature requirements citizen initiated constitutional amendments opposed bill impose new requirements despite criticism voting measure constituted conflict interest removal committee consistent bruce practice county commissioner bruce opposed ceremonial resolutions legislature february lone legislator refused sign resolution recognizing military republican legislators denounced bruce public letter indifference veterans republican minority leader mike removed bruce veterans military affairs committee bruce offered evidence support veterans successful amendment house bill include interest state resulted additional fund bruce later cite major accomplishments session peasants comments april bruce voiced opposition house debate bill sponsored create guest worker program facilitate temporary employment agricultural workers mexico speaking illegal immigration advised restrict comments bill debate chair bruce took floor second time commented bruce immediately order ruled longer recognized debate bill bruce comments denounced legislators sides aisle mexican denver bruce defended remarks accurate citing dictionary definitions peasant legislators responded bruce generating controversy declaring start ignoring following weekend bruce comments target local protest election bruce announced november stand general election house district seat faced challenge republican nomination attorney iraq war veteran bruce funded campaign personal funds refusing accept private campaign donations received endorsements contributions sitting state representatives colorado attorney general received vote republican assembly march claiming line august republican primary ballot differ publicly bruce political positions argued bruce temperament caused ineffective legislator bruce accused inappropriate conduct campaigning bruce accused distributing campaign republican representatives house floor promoting charity shortly primary listing endorsements web site turn bruce filed campaign finance complaints resulted campaign fined failing properly disclose campaign contribution ultimately bruce defeated republican nomination august party primary taking percent vote percent post legislative activism bruce began series challenges creation enterprise fee contended amounted illegal tax collected government entity attempt ballot measure end fee held violate colorado single subject rule bruce gained permission second petition following year long battle wording placed measure november ballot following struggles collect necessary number signatures rejected voters bruce successful placing measure targeting ballot despite challenges city signatures submitted time bruce lost disputes wording ballot measures passed voters percent vote mandated enterprise payments phased years bruce city officials disputed election measure apply city enterprise fee threatening launch ballot initiative cut property taxes initial vote city council years city council voted phase authority immediately bruce objected city council proposed implementation initiative allow city collect payments authority exchange services rendered bruce claimed plain meaning issue similar claims local government restructuring proposal mayor march bruce filed suit city city council charging illegally hired outside legal counsel accused council members receiving benefits greater authorized law june bruce filed ballot measure dramatically expand powers city mayor including eliminating positions city manager chief financial officer communications staff giving mayor power veto lower taxes excuse city code violations statewide ballot measures bruce attempted distance statewide ballot measures aimed limiting colorado governments power raise borrow money measures linked bruce records showing temporarily resided apartment buildings past work initiatives states measures amendment amendment proposition impose restrictions tax cuts eliminate governments ability borrow money voter approval cut state income tax percent eliminate vehicle ownership taxes opponents ballot measures filed complaint alleging violated colorado campaign finance laws failing disclose contributions expenditures bruce testify hearing related case march contested summons unsuccessfully month state attempted times serve notice court order testify bruce residence bruce stated town time notices delivered newspapers removed period hearing late ballot measures sponsors testified met bruce measures filed provided advice submitting legal matters early june administrative law judge ruled evidence showed bruce measures imposed fines proponents state attorney general office stated seek contempt citation bruce district court crime trial conviction sentence charged money attempted public official tax fraud discovered small government charity founded hide millions dollars state interest funds political agenda case went trial bruce acted attorney days trail hours convicted bruce counts february sentenced consecutive day jail terms months probation extensive financial court aimed ensure repeat years prison district attorney asked ordered pay cover cost prosecution cover taxes owed state assistant attorney general said bruce personal selfish reasons took advantage charitable giving process able cheat colorado better decade denounced trial saying trial seen years regardless outcome february denver district judge sentenced bruce months jail years probation imposing strict conditions require disclose detail financial life allowing government access personal computers said doubts bruce successfully complete probation bruce trial introduced evidence throwing documents floor judge said defendant absolutely regard rule law behavior trial said assistant attorney general said outcome fair life going extremely transparent wanted said bruce remained defiant saying able body soul said bruce began serving sentence february bruce spent days jail terms conditions required release year probation department brought complaints bruce claiming failed submit financial tax didn disclose financial deal colorado springs didn report code violations court cases related properties owns ohio wisconsin illinois nearly taxes ohio properties march found violation probation sentenced years currently serving sentence colorado
Douglas Bruce