Coloradans for Liquor Fairness is a now-defunct nonprofit advocacy organization that campaigned in support of Proposition 124, a ballot measure in Colorado to increase the number of liquor stores each liquor license could operate, that was unsuccessful during the 2022 election. ^{1 2}

Coloradans for Liquor Fairness was closely associated with alcoholic beverage retailer Total Wine, formally known as Total Wine & More. The company’s co-owner, U.S. Representative David Trone (D-MD), and his brother Robert each gave over $1 million to the organization. If Colorado for Liquor Fairness’s campaign for Proposition 124 was successful, then Total Wine would have been allowed to open an unlimited amount of retail locations in the state. ³ Coloradans for Liquor Fairness’s president and sole board member, Tom Haubenstricker, was also the CFO of Total Wine. ^{4 5}

Background

Coloradans for Liquor Fairness, also known as Coloradans for Consumer Choice and Retail Fairness, is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that was founded in 2022 to campaign in support of ballot measures in Colorado that would expand the number of retail outlets a liquor license could operate. ⁶

During the 2022 election cycle, Coloradans for Liquor Fairness campaigned in support of Colorado Proposition 124. As of June 2024, it spent all its contributions in 2022 on its campaign supporting Proposition 124 in 2022 and has not announced plans to operate further. ^{7 8}

Proposition 124

In 2022, Coloradans for Liquor Fairness campaigned in support of Proposition 124 in Colorado, which was defeated by voters. Proposition 124 was a ballot measure that would have increased the amount of retail liquor stores each liquor store licensee could operate from three incrementally increase to eight by the end of 2026, 13 by the end of 2031, 20 by the end of 2036, and an unlimited amount afterwards. ⁹

Funding

U.S. Representative David Trone (D-MD) and his brother, Robert, each donated over $1 million to Coloradans for Liquor Fairness in 2022 while also being the owners with sole voting power over Total Wine, an alcoholic beverage retailer. Critics argue that Total Wine, and therefore Trone, stood to benefit if Proposition 124 had passed with the support of Coloradans for Liquor Fairness, as it would have removed restrictions limiting Total Wine to three retail locations in Colorado, allowing the company to open an unlimited number of locations. ¹⁰

The Washington Free Beacon reported in May 2024 that when Trone was elected to Congress in 2018, he promised to step away from the $2.4 billion business, and when he took office in 2019, he stated that he had “relinquished all operational responsibility” over Total Wine. It was also reported that as of 2022, Trone worked as director, president, secretary, treasurer, manager, co-manager, and co-president of eight entities tied to Total Wine, including its parent company, Retail Services and Systems, Inc. Additionally, Trone reported Total Wine & More as his place of business on his Federal Election Commission filings for campaign contributions made during the 2022 election cycle. ¹¹

Financials

In 2022, Coloradans for Liquor Fairness reported $13.7 million in total revenue and spent all its revenue, ending the year with $0 in assets. ¹²

According to its tax returns, Coloradans for Liquor Fairness paid Blue West Media over $7.8 million in 2022 in media purchases, which was its highest paid independent contractor. In 2022, it also paid over $2.1 million to Blitz Canvassing for signature gathering as well as $1.3 million to AMHC, $896,750 to Onsight Public affairs, and $567,750 to Ascent Media LLC, all of which were reported as payments for advertising. ¹³

Leadership

Thomas (Tom) Haubenstricker was the president and sole board member of Coloradans for Liquor Fairness, according to its 2022 tax returns. ¹⁴ Haubenstricker has also worked as CFO of Total Wine since 2015. Prior to that role, he was CFO of Zale Corporation from 2011 to 2014. ¹⁵

1. “Colorado Proposition 124, Retail Liquor Store Licenses Initiative (2022).” Ballotpedia. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_Proposition_124,_Retail_Liquor_Store_Licenses_Initiative_(2022).
2. “Colorado Proposition 124, Retail Liquor Store Licenses Initiative (2022).” Ballotpedia. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_Proposition_124,_Retail_Liquor_Store_Licenses_Initiative_(2022).
3. Kerr, Andrew. “David Trone Says He Has No Involvement in Total Wine Empire Fueling His Senate Bid. Financial Disclosures Say Otherwise.” Washington Free Beacon, May 7, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/david-trone-says-he-has-no-involvement-in-total-wine-empire-fueling-his-senate-bid-financial-disclosures-say-otherwise/.
4. “Tom Haubenstricker.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-haubenstricker-541a3772.
5. Return of Organization Exempt form Income Tax (Form 990). Coloradans for Liquor Fairness. 2022. Part VII, Section B.
6. Return of Organization Exempt form Income Tax (Form 990). Coloradans for Liquor Fairness. 2022.
7. Return of Organization Exempt form Income Tax (Form 990). Coloradans for Liquor Fairness. 2022. Part I, Lines 12-21.
8. “Colorado Proposition 124, Retail Liquor Store Licenses Initiative (2022).” Ballotpedia. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_Proposition_124,_Retail_Liquor_Store_Licenses_Initiative_(2022).
9. “Colorado Proposition 124, Retail Liquor Store Licenses Initiative (2022).” Ballotpedia. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_Proposition_124,_Retail_Liquor_Store_Licenses_Initiative_(2022).
10. Kerr, Andrew. “David Trone Says He Has No Involvement in Total Wine Empire Fueling His Senate Bid. Financial Disclosures Say Otherwise.” Washington Free Beacon, May 7, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/david-trone-says-he-has-no-involvement-in-total-wine-empire-fueling-his-senate-bid-financial-disclosures-say-otherwise/.
11. Kerr, Andrew. “David Trone Says He Has No Involvement in Total Wine Empire Fueling His Senate Bid. Financial Disclosures Say Otherwise.” Washington Free Beacon, May 7, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/david-trone-says-he-has-no-involvement-in-total-wine-empire-fueling-his-senate-bid-financial-disclosures-say-otherwise/.
12. Return of Organization Exempt form Income Tax (Form 990). Coloradans for Liquor Fairness. 2022. Part I, Lines 12-21.
13. Return of Organization Exempt form Income Tax (Form 990). Coloradans for Liquor Fairness. 2022. Part VII, Section B.
14. Return of Organization Exempt form Income Tax (Form 990). Coloradans for Liquor Fairness. 2022. Schedule O.
15. “Tom Haubenstricker.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-haubenstricker-541a3772.