Suspected vandal once campaigned for Dem candidate

DENVER — An act of vandalism at Colorado Democratic headquarters that shattered windows next to signs about health care reform took a strange turn Wednesday when it was revealed that one of the suspects was a Democratic activist.

Democratic leaders initially said that the window shattering was an act of political vandalism, possibly by opponents of health care reform. But the political leanings of suspect Maurice Schwenkler raised the prospect that one of the party’s own might have vandalized its building to make a statement.

Schwenkler refused to discuss possible motive with police Wednesday, and it was unclear whether Schwenkler had an attorney.

“He’s not giving us any indication why he did what he did,” Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said Wednesday of Schwenkler. He was released Wednesday afternoon on $5,000 bail, according to jail officials.

Most of the 11 broken windows displayed posters supporting health care reform and Obama. The headquarters was unoccupied at the time and there were no injuries reported. Party officials estimate damages at more than $10,000.

A second suspect remained at large.

No paperwork has been filed in court because the case remains under investigation. Police were deciding whether to recommend felony charges, Jackson said.

State Democratic Chairwoman Pat Waak continued to say that it was an act of vandalism prompted by the heated debate over President Barack Obama’s health care reform, but did not get into specifics about Schwenkler.

“I stand by my statement that I think there are people opposed to health care reform and there has been a lot of rhetoric that has prompted an atmosphere that I don’t think is constructive,” Waak said Wednesday. “It’s such a polarizing issue. It shouldn’t be.”

Republican Chairman Dick Wadhams has condemned the act and said he doesn’t believe the Democratic Party had anything to do with it. But he said Waak’s suggestion that the vandalism was somehow connected to the health care debate was appalling.

“It’s impugning anybody who is exercising their free speech and opposing the president’s proposal,” he said.

State campaign records show Schwenkler, 24, was paid $500 by Colorado Citizens’ Coalition in November to walk door to door for Democrat Mollie Cullom, a candidate for the Legislature from Centennial. The nonprofit group receives funding from several sources, including unions.

Mike Hamrick, chairman of the Arapahoe County Democrats and Cullom’s campaign committee agent, said he’s never heard of Schwenkler. There was no record that Schwenkler was registered to vote in Colorado.

A man who answered the phone at an address listed on campaign records for Schwenkler declined to comment.

Public records show the home at the address listed for Schwenkler is co-owned by Sarah Bardwell, an activist who has drawn scrutiny from law enforcement for leading protests against the Iraq war in recent years. A message left at a number listed for Bardwell wasn’t immediately returned.