Pueblo’s failed anti-abortion ordinance is bringing increased scrutiny on the law’s sponsor, City Councilor Regina Maestri, including a campaign finance complaint, an ethics complaint, and questions about her residency.
On Tuesday, the Pueblo City Council voted 4-3 against Maestri’s ordinance, which relied on federal enforcement of the Comstock Act, an 1873 anti-vice law banning the mailing and receiving of obscene matter. Maestri, Mark Aliff, Brett Boston voted in favor of the ordinance. During the contentious meeting, Aliff threatened repeatedly to clear the chambers as Maestri argued with pro-abortion members of the audience from the dais.
The day before the council meeting, a campaign finance complaint was filed against Maestri by Kathy Nicholls. The complaint, available on the state’s campaign finance database, claims that Maestri violated state law by speaking critically against Amendment 79 during council work sessions on Sept. 16 and Sept. 23. Colorado law prohibits any political subdivision of the state, such as city councils, from “expend[ing] any moneys from any source, or make any contributions, to urge electors to vote in favor of or against any … statewide ballot issue that has been submitted for the purpose of having a title designated and fixed … or that has had a title designated and fixed.”
According to Nicholls’ complaint, “On September 23, 2024 the entire Work Session was regarding Colorado abortion laws, the ballot measure and the last presentation [was by] an attorney who was brought (based on information and belief) solely by [Maestri] and/or other City Council members to present anti-abortion information as well as discussing abortion laws and ability to pass local ordinances. Sarah Martinez, another City Council member, indicated expenditures on this work session which was clearly used to urge voters against the ballot measure, were around $1,500 which did not include staff member salaries. [Maestri] stated, ‘I’m going to bring issues forward so that people have a better understanding, even when they’re voting here on Amendment 79, are we going to continue to feed the beast … if abortion is going to be legal, are we going to try to, as communities across this state, try to make legislators accountable and the abortion clinics accountable when they’re treating women for these procedures. It’s unfortunate that this State doesn’t — we have such a radical abortion law that goes through the ninth month, that’s just a shame in itself, I mean, there’s no restrictions. I don’t know that pro choice has benefited women’s choice if they’re not protected, health- and safety-wise. I feel like the opposition to putting regulations on it is more pro abortion than they are pro choice, that’s just my personal opinion.’”
In addition to the campaign finance complaint, Maestri is the subject of a recent ethics complaint for failure to recuse herself during votes on a city contract for $25,707 with Colorado Front Range Roofing.
According to the complaint, Maestri has a personal relationship James Sprague, the owner of Colorado Front Range Roofing. Maestri voted along with the rest of the council to approve the contract. According to the Pueblo City Charter, “A member of the City Council who or whose family has a personal or private interest in any matter proposed or pending before the City Council shall disclose such interest to the City Council and shall not vote thereon and shall refrain from attempting to influence the decisions of the other members of the City Council in voting on the matter.”
According to a spokesperson for the City of Pueblo, the ethics complaint is anticipated to be on the next regular meeting agenda for Oct. 28.
Update Oct. 29, 2024: During the Oct. 28 Pueblo City Council meeting, Council voted 6-0 to dismiss the ethics complaint against Maestri after the City Attorney reported factual errors in the complaint and provided evidence that Maestri did ultimately recuse herself from the vote.
In addition the official complaints against Maestri, a recent post on the blogging website Medium has raised questions about Maestri’s residence in Pueblo’s District 1. According to the blog post, in May, Maestri announced she was seeking the at-large seat and the Pueblo Chieftain reported at the time, “Maestri currently lives in northwest Pueblo. But her ‘personal circumstances have changed’ and she is looking to buy another home in town, she told the Chieftain Friday morning.”
Following a September 10th KRDO news report, the blogger noted that Maestri was filmed in the backyard of a property which shows the Walking Stick golf course in the reflection of the glass, which did not appear to be her District 1 home. The blogger was able to identify the address and the owner — Sprague — and claims they were able to “confirm she appears to have turned on electricity in her name at the property by using the Black Hills Energy guest pay feature which requires the last name and property address to make a payment.”
The Colorado Times Recorder was able to duplicate the results of the Black Hills Energy guest pay feature using Maestri’s name and alleged new address.
Maestri did not respond to an emailed request for comment.
