Campaign funds used to feed cat

BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A candidate for Boulder, Colo., City Council spent $14.37 on food for his campaign manager -- Sita, the house cat.

Rob Smoke said the money he spent at Only Natural Pet Store out of the $236 his campaign has raised from personal friends as a protest against the way campaign finances are handled, the Boulder Daily Camera reported Wednesday.

"It's just a general protest against the way expenditures are handled," he said. "You have people dumping road signs all over the right-of-way, forcing the city to spend money to clean it up, all by candidates who give lip service to caring about the environment."

Smoke said he is particularly incensed by candidates donating money to each other to receive matching funds from the city and accepting money from developers that are currently discussing business issues with the city.

"My taking care of my cat is above what some of the people have done," he said. "I think there are a lot of abuses, and I don't partake of any of them."

Boulder campaign finance administrator Dianne Marshall said city code only requires candidates to disclose campaign expenses, it does not state what expenses are legitimate.

"It's not unusual that he would buy food for campaign helpers," she said.