Two related stories broke in different parts of the country the week of Oct. 5.

In Colorado, Issue 7A — asking voters to approve $295 million a year in new sales taxes and up to $580 million in debt for the “Colorado Connector” train, aka “CoCo” — mistakenly was included on mail ballots sent to some 800,000 voters outside the Front Range Passenger Rail District.

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Meanwhile, CBS California identified Brent Butzin, a partner at Nossaman LLP, as the “Denver-based legal consultant” referenced in an inspector general’s review of consultant travel at California’s badly fumbled high-speed rail program.

Courtesy Front Range Passenger Rail Rendering of CoCo passenger rail train.

Three days later, on Oct. 12, Butzin resigned as the designated election official for Colorado’s rail district. He also stepped down as general counsel.

The district didn’t disclose it for eight days, even with ballots already in voters’ hands.…