Personal gain is a violation of public trust
The incumbent is using his elected position as Coroner, and the facilities and staff at the Coroner’s Office (paid for by taxpayer money), to serve as a vehicle for personal enrichment. He is using his elected office for personal gain.
It is a fundamental axiom in Colorado that an elected official should honor the public trust. They must hold the respect and confidence of the people.
Under Colorado law, they must carry out their duties for the benefit of the people of the state. Not for their own enrichment.
The Constitution of Colorado says,
“Any effort to realize personal financial gain through public office other than compensation provided by law is a violation of that trust”
The entire law may be viewed below:
Constitution of the State of Colorado
Article XXIX. Ethics in Government
§ 1. Purposes and findings
(1) The people of the state of Colorado hereby find and declare that:
(a) The conduct of public officers, members of the general assembly, local government officials, and government employees must hold the respect and confidence of the people;
(b) They shall carry out their duties for the benefit of the people of the state;
(c) They shall, therefore, avoid conduct that is in violation of their public trust or that creates a justifiable impression among members of the public that such trust is being violated;
(d) Any effort to realize personal financial gain through public office other than compensation provided by law is a violation of that trust; and
(e) To ensure propriety and to preserve public confidence, they must have the benefit of specific standards to guide their conduct, and of a penalty mechanism to enforce those standards.
(2) The people of the state of Colorado also find and declare that there are certain costs associated with holding public office and that to ensure the integrity of the office, such costs of a reasonable and necessary nature should be born by the state or local government.
