Posted: 9/28/04
Hanson files ethics complaint against Davids
The Hanson for House Committee is claiming that the People for Davids Committee has violated campaign finance laws.
A complaint was filed on September 17 by Harlin Taylor, treasurer of the Hanson for House Committee.
It alleges violation of the ethics of government act with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board in St. Paul on behalf of the Hanson for House Committee.
According to a September 20 press release, the Hanson for House Committeeís purpose in bringing this complaint is ìto end what we believe to be serious and ongoing campaign finance improprieties committed by the People for (Gregory) Davids Committee. We believe taxpayer dollars are being misused.î
The complaint further stated ÝìWe would not take this action if we believed the improprieties were isolated, inadvertent, de minimis or technical in nature. We bring this complaint because we see what we believe to be a pervasive and excessive pattern of misclassification of campaign expenditures as noncampaign disbursements.î
The summary of the complaint states that the Davids committee ìhas extensively abused the category of constituent services expenditures to avoid the constraints of the campaign spending limits,î and that this ìhas rendered the campaign spending limits essentially meaningless.î
In the People for Davids Committeeís 2004 pre-primary report, which is the subject of the complaint, a total of $22,949.75 of noncampaign disbursements are listed. ÝÝThe Hanson for House Committee has challenged Ý$15,058.89 worth of disbursements as misclassified campaign expenditures or inadequately documented noncampaign disbursements subject to re-classification.
The complaint also challenges the absence of in-district campaign travel expenditures by the People for Davids Committee.
The complaint challenges things like post cards, business cards, postage, newspaper survey ads, office rent, and itemization of expenses for travel both within and outside the district.
The eight-page document submitted to the Campaign Finance Board provides detailed documentation to support the claim of Ýìserious and ongoing campaign finance improprieties committed by the People for (Gregory) Davids Committee.î The Hanson Committee cited Minnesota Statutes, Minnesota Rules and past Advisory Opinions of the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to support these challenges.
The Hanson for House Committee has asked the Campaign Finance Board to hold the People for Davids to the same standards of campaign spending and reporting practices that apply to all other legislators and candidates in the State of Minnesota. The Campaign Finance Board has notified the People for Davids Committee of this complaint. ÝIt will be ruled upon at a time to be determined by the Board. Ý
Davids responds
The Argus contacted Greg Davids for a response to the complaint. Davids said it was part of the ìpolitical sillies.î
He said he would amend his mileage report, but the other issues have been approved and are legitimate.
ìThe whole point here is we have always complied with the campaign finance board,î he said.
Things like surveys in newspapers are legitimate, as is postage for constituent mailings, office rent in Preston, and telephone service for constituents, he said.
ìEverything other than paying myself a little bit more for mileage. Iím going to give that money to charity,î he said. ìWhen youíre not right on the issues, then you attack personally, I guess. Thatís what sheís doing here. Itís a personal attack.î
Davids added that he was not going to apologize to anyone for spending money on constituent services. ìIím proud of my record.î
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com