Manny Rutinel receives campaign donations from former Earthjustice colleagues

Colorado Democratic congressional nominee Manny Rutinel has received nearly $11,000 in political contributions from former colleagues at the environmental group Earthjustice, according to campaign finance filings.

Among the donors is Peter Lehner, head of Earthjustice’s Sustainable Food & Farming Program and Rutinel’s former supervisor, who contributed the maximum allowed amount of $7,000. Senior attorney Alexandra Schluntz also contributed $1,000.

Rutinel, who is running in Colorado’s Eighth Congressional District, has attempted to distance himself from his previous career as an environmental and animal rights activist to appeal to voters in a district where ranching and oil industries are economically significant. While he previously worked for Earthjustice from May 2022 to July 2023, he has since removed references to the role from his campaign website and described himself as a friend to ranchers.