El Paso County commissioner candidate David Leinweber faces accusations he has violated Colorado fair campaign practices in his bid for county office.

Colorado Springs-based resident group Integrity Matters filed two complaints in under two weeks with Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s office, alleging Leinweber has used his current position as an at-large Colorado Springs councilman to campaign for his election as the county’s District 3 commissioner. The group filed the complaints on May 21 and on Wednesday.

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In its complaint filed Wednesday, Integrity Matters stated there have been numerous times when Leinweber has promoted city events on the Facebook page dedicated to his county commissioner campaign while serving in his capacity as a councilmember.

For example, an April 3 post on his county campaign social media webpage encouraged residents to join him and fellow Colorado Springs Councilman Brian Risley for their second State of the Community town hall event, held at Red Leg Brewing Company on the western edge of the city.

In a nearly 3-minute YouTube video clip Integrity Matters linked in its May 21 complaint, which the group states is from the April 3 event, Leinweber can be heard about 20 seconds in saying, “Within my campaign, one of the issues that we have is, really, our homeless population, and really, the mental health crisis that we have.”

In the clip, Leinweber goes on to say the city has “done innovative things” to address the issue, including the Fire Department’s Homeless Outreach Program that has helped move residents into permanent housing and take pressure off emergency services.

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Wednesday’s complaint also said Leinweber has promoted on his campaign social media Colorado Springs’ 1,000 block parties initiative, an idea the councilman conceived.

“You’re not supposed to use your office to influence elections. … This clearly crosses a line that I think is unfair to other candidates,” said Integrity Matters co-founder Dana Duggan, who filed both complaints.

Leinweber and his campaign manager Sarah Brittain Jack said Wednesday mental health has always been a part of Leinweber’s platform. He has been vocal on the subject as a city councilman and also as the reason he launched his bid for county commissioner, they both said.

“’Campaign’ is a word that can be used in a lot of ways. … ‘My campaign’ could also be ‘my campaign to promote mental health,’ and making it a top priority for the community,” Brittain Jack said.

Leinweber repeated statements Wednesday that he is running for the Board of County Commissioners because on that board he can affect more positive change when it comes to improving mental health than he can as a city councilman.

“When I talk about mental health, it’s hard not to share the reason” why he is running for county commissioner, Leinweber said. Speaking of the April 3 event, he added, “I didn’t bring campaign materials. I didn’t announce anything in the end, but when we got into the mental health (aspect), the Public Health Department is … at the county (level), so I think it just naturally flowed out.”

Brittain Jack and Leinweber likened the complaints filed by Integrity Matters to a “campaign stunt” and “political gamesmanship,” respectively.

Brittain Jack said the complaints were filed just weeks ahead of the June 25 primary election. Ballots for the primary will go out to El Paso County voters starting next week.

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Integrity Matters’ Duggan also co-founded the resident wildfire watch group Westside Watch with Bill Wysong, who is among four Republican candidates in the District 3 race, including Leinweber.

Wysong does not serve on the Integrity Matters board and the group does not endorse candidates, Duggan said Wednesday.

“The complaint was filed because (Leinweber) violated the rules,” Duggan said.

Integrity Matters has filed previous campaign-related complaints against other candidates.

For example, in early March 2023 the group filed a complaint with city officials alleging former Councilmember Wayne Williams, who last year ran for election as Colorado Springs mayor, violated city code by using city resources in a campaign ad he aired on Facebook.

The city ultimately cleared Williams of the accusation, finding he did not violate local campaign code.