The Colorado Elections Division has dismissed a complaint alleging Glenwood Springs officials violated campaign finance laws by responding to media questions about a local ballot measure.

On Jan. 17, the division filed a motion to dismiss with the Deputy Secretary of State, stating there was not enough evidence to support a complaint that city staff misused public resources while discussing Ballot Measure 2A. The complaint stemmed from an article published in the Post Independent on Oct. 16.

Submitted by deputy district attorney and former city council member Tony Hershey, the complaint accused City Manager Steve Boyd, Public Works Director Matt Langhorst, and Public Information Officer Bryana Starbuck of crossing the line from providing neutral information to actively promoting the measure. 

“City staff and city council take our responsibilities to the public very seriously, so we appreciate the thorough review of the Secretary of State’s office,” Mayor Ingrid Wussow said in a release. “City staff operated with integrity to respond in accordance with the Fair Campaign Practices Act, and this motion confirms that.”

Ballot Measure 2A, which was narrowly approved by voters in November 2024, proposed extending an existing half-cent sales tax for road maintenance while adding a quarter-cent increase for additional street projects and another quarter-cent for underground infrastructure.

A second complaint filed by Hershey alleges that the Glenwood Springs Chamber used its committee, Community on the Move, to form a subcommittee, Paving Glenwood Forward, to advocate for the tax renewal. That complaint remains under investigation.