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1. Caperton's Applicability <br /> it At the outset, we recognize that Colorado law addresses the <br /> intersection between campaign contributions and conflicts of <br /> interest. <br /> 4'; The Colorado Constitution lays this foundation. In outlining <br /> ethical standards for government officials, it notes that public <br /> officers "must hold the respect and confidence of the people" and <br /> that they therefore must "avoid conduct that is in violation of [that] <br /> public trust or that creates a justifiable impression among [the <br /> public] that such trust is being violated." Colo. Const. art. XXIX, <br /> § 1(1)(a), (1)(c). Building on this idea, public officials cannot receive <br /> "any money, forbearance, or forgiveness of indebtedness from any <br /> person, without such person receiving lawful consideration of equal <br /> or greater value in return . . . ." Colo. Const. art. XXIX, § 3(1). <br /> Critically, however, the ban expressly does not apply to "campaign <br /> contribution[s]." Colo. Const. art. XXIX, § 3(3)(a). <br /> 49 The Colorado statute detailing ethical standards for public <br /> officials, section 24-18-104, C.R.S. 2021, also toes this line. While <br /> it prohibits public officials from accepting anything "tantamount to <br /> a gift of substantial value" given with the intent to influence or <br /> 24 <br />