By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics
Is Democratic candidate Vivian Smotherman, who’s running for one of Colorado’s hottest state senate seats, violating Colorado’s campaign finance laws and regulations?
Smotherman has used more than $1,000 of campaign contributions to pay for clothes, hair styling and a consultant (who’s also the hairstylist) on her appearance.
The state’s campaign finance manual doesn’t specifically prohibit a candidate from spending campaign contributions on hair and clothes. Still, it states candidates “may not use contributions for personal purposes not reasonably related to the election of the candidate.” The manual’s only specified language on permissible use of campaign contributions for personal use is for child or dependent care.