Debra Lovejoy, Pinnacol Assurance's former ethics chairwoman, is our Shmuck of the Week

"Pebble Beach Resorts is a legendary place. Combine a dramatic coastline and mystical forest with a rich history of world-class accommodations, warm hospitality, expert service and grand recreation." That's how www.pebblebeach.com describes the world-renowned California resort...

By Jonathan Shikes

February 4, 2011

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

"Pebble Beach Resorts is a legendary place. Combine a dramatic coastline and mystical forest with a rich history of world-class accommodations, warm hospitality, expert service and grand recreation." That's how www.pebblebeach.com describes the world-renowned California resort.

It's the perfect place for a spa treatment, as Debra Lovejoy discovered. Lovejoy is a now-former board member and ethics chairwoman for Pinnacol Assurance, the quasi-state agency that provides workers compensation coverage to some people in return for not having to pay taxes.

Lovejoy was one of several board and staff members of Pinnacol who were treated by the agency to a five-day trip to the resort last May -- one that, 7News reports, cost $318,000.

That total, 7News says, "included at least $6,000 spent on Lovejoy and her husband's flights, hotel room, spa visits, golf and gifts, as compensation for her service on the board."

This week, Lovejoy said she is no longer on the board of Pinnacol.

Lucky for her, she's still got pictures.

For more shmucks, visit our Shmuck of the Week archive.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.