School may be back in session, but that's not stopping one teacher--the spouse of a state House candidate--from continuing to take a salary from his wife's campaign.
Jim Cullom, the husband of Mollie Cullom, a Democrat candidate for House District 39, was paid $1500 from his wife's campaign committee in August for "campaign management."
According to Secretary of State records, this is the second time in as many months that Mollie Cullom has coughed up cash for her husband. She also reported an identical expense on her July 19th campaign finance report. While Jim Cullom held a leadership position in Mollie's previous unsuccessful runs for the state legislature, this is the first year he has billed the campaign for his services.
While hiring family members with campaign funds is not prohibited under Colorado law, it raises certain questions about ethics and impropriety. We don’t have a problem with Mollie Cullom paying her husband for legitimate work, but why suddenly charge the campaign for services you previously provided for free? The couple declined to answer Face The State's questions about the campaign's finances when the expense first became public, which only raises further concerns about the nature of the expenditure. A second round of phone calls to the Culloms this week were not returned.
The public always appreciates transparency, and Mollie Cullom should consider this since she is running for public office.