BH penned: "Ms Olson of the Star Tribune should thank me and the Mpls list creators for giving her a story. I think that RT and SSB spent around 250K on their respective campaigns in 2001. A $42K mailing paid for by tax payer dollars is a great way to raise almost 20% of your previous campaign budget. I don't think that RT broke the law I just believe that he used poor timing in mailing this piece. I would like to use the city's printer the next time I run for office at 24 cents a copy to mail out. You can't beat that price maybe that's why the city's communications department wants to take over MTN? So they can get money to mail out news letters for our elected officials during election years. Election 2005 is getting off to a great start I may be joining the party."
The State Auditor disagrees with your opinion, and has stated that the literature is indeed illegal. Rybak will most likely have to pay back the money spent. I doubt if any additional penalties will be applied, and it may well have been an honest mistake. A few days before receiving Rybak's mailing, I received a similar one from Ward 9 council member, Gary Schiff. I didn't look too closely at it, but I suspect it is city funded, and probably violates the same law the mayor has run afoul of. One stipulation for newsletters of this kind is that the literature cannot bear a picture of a candidate. Rybak's has 6 pictures of himself. Gary's has at least one. Dan McGrath Longfellow http://www.smokeoutgary.org REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
