Tuesday, May 16, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brett Kokinadis
Phone: (575) 425-0739
New Mexico Democrats for Democracy files ethics complaints against Responsible Leadership NM and Retake our Democracy with Secretary of State
Is the Secretary of State Playing Favorites?
SANTA FE, NM, May 16, 2018
- After business hours on Tuesday, New Mexico Democrats for Democracy (NMD4D) filed two official ethics complaints by email with the Secretary of State’s office against Responsible Leadership NM, and Independent Expenditure PAC and Retake Our Democracy a 501(c)4 organization. NMD4D believes both organizations are in violation
1.10.13 NMAC
.
“Responsible Leadership NM, an Independent Expenditure PAC” (RLNM), reported to CFIS monetary contributions from individuals and/or entities exceeding the amount permissible under NM campaign finance law with contributions from Green Advocacy Project totalling $100,000, and a $10,000 donation from Mariel Nanasi, Executive Director and President of New Energy Economy.
RLNM should comply with campaign finance limits and should not meet the legal definition of an independent expenditure.
“Any person, other than a registered PAC, who makes an independent expenditure, in an amount that exceeds one thousand dollars ($1,000) for one or more non-statewide race or ballot measures or in an amount that exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for one or more statewide race or ballot measure, or in an amount that, when added to the aggregate amount of the independent expenditures made by the same person during the election cycle, exceeds these thresholds, shall file a report of the independent expenditure.” - via
http://www.sos.state.nm.us/independent-expenditures.aspx
Secondly and more concerning is Retake Our Democracy (ROD) is not registered as a PAC, however instead is registered as a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation, and raised concerns about activities that appear to be coordinated with candidates. Candidates Janine Yazzi, Steve Fishman, Rep Candidates Andrea Romero, Susan Herrera and State Auditor Candidate Bill McCamley have coordinated with Retake Our Democracy (ROD) and failed to report income or in-kind donations.
Several examples, taken from the ROD’s website/blog, show communications that meet the criteria to be included in the $1,000 threshold for reporting, while a member of ROD's Leadership Team Cecile Lipworth, is also a Field Director as indicated on state representative candidate Andrea Romero’s website.
Brett Kokinadis, founder of NMD4D
“I was asked why I was not register as a PAC after complaints made by the AFT to the SOS. Prior to filing I was operating a Facebook page as an individual and could have filed as an individual expenditure, however the SOS did not seem to agree. Since then NMD4D has registered and complied with all NM statutes including monetary contribution limits. Why has the Secretary of State allowed these two organizations to exceed statutory restrictions, it almost seems like the office is playing favorites.”
New Mexico Democrats for Democracy
“We are over 32,000 NM Democrats that want to clean up corruption within our party. We are tired of the blatant undermining of Democratic principles by party elites. We support candidates who are committed to Democratic principles and will not turn a blind eye to corruption, especially within the party. We believe that corrupt politicians in our party are unworthy of leadership and should not be elected.”
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