Argus story on illegal MEA affiliate mailing

I had an eye on this for awhile. As I posted the other day.

How many folks in the Brighton School District got a postcard mailing from the Brighton Education Association? On it, it says "Paid for by Brighton Education Association." However, there is no PAC by that name listed at the County Clerks office, nor the Michigan Secretary of State. The BEA did it again.

This isn't the first go around with the local MEA affiliates. Brighton/Howell. Howell seemed to clean up its act on its mailing after they got turned in for an anonymous mailing. They go through East Lansing for their mailing. HEA is an MEA affiliate, so that's perfectly legal.

This is however two in a row for the Brighton MEA. They got lucky in their defense with the John Conely mailing and got off on a technicality. It was one of those "definition of is" types of situations because of the wording of the ad. If you think I'm going to post the exact technicality here, you're crazy. I'm not giving anybody a blueprint to skirt the campaign finance regulations here. The BEA/MEA broke laws regarding PACs, but it couldn't be proven at that time because of one word not on the ad. This time however.....Son, your egos are writing checks your bodies can't cash.

The Argus had a story on this

Brighton Area Schools Board of Education member Bill Anderson believes a postcard sent out by the Brighton Education Association teachers' union supporting candidate Bill Trombley was illegal and plans to file a complaint with state election officials.

Trombley, making his first bid for the school board, was elected Tuesday and defeated incumbent Greg Rassel.

The postcard, sent out Nov. 1 to Brighton area voters, states it was paid by the Brighton Education Association. It also has several comments by Trombley stating why he was running. Of the four candidates running, the teachers' union endorsed only Trombley.

Anderson said it's a violation of campaign finance laws for a teachers' union to pay for campaign literature. He also said the postcard must be an independent piece that supports a candidate; instead, he said this postcard appears to be sent directly from Trombley.

"The problem is they failed to identify their political action committee on here," said Anderson, who is a legislative liaison for the Michigan Townships Association.

Addressing Anderson's points.

I think it's the PAC that paid for it, based on the newsletter comment, however the disclaimer doesn't mention a PAC. Someone else also turned them in, and on that complaint stated a failure to file campaign finance reports and statements of organization. I saw the complaint and double checked it. It's solidly backed up with evidence.

As far as the independent expenditures, PAC money can pay for just about anything they want as long as the expenditure is reported. What makes something "independent" is who paid for it. It's a bit sneaky with the terms "I am running" which is something I actually didn't notice. I'd have to check a few things to determine the legality of that, but I think it's still legal as long as the paid for by disclaimer is listed. I'll have to see what's considered "misleading" by law.

However, a BEA newsletter from October states a political action committee paid for the cards, "not BEA money."

I saw that newsletter. That "PAC," much like that 8-d Coordinating Council PAC, described in the newsletter is also not registered with the County Clerk or Secretary of State's office. THAT's what makes this mailing illegal. This
"PAC", which is been around for at least two election cycles, has not been registered. The statement of organization has not been filed. Triannual statements (if state) or Pre/Post General statements (if county) have not been filed. That's the illegality.

Anderson said this isn't the first time the teachers' union has had a problem with campaign literature.

"We're having a pattern here," Anderson said.

It's the 3rd time in the county alone that I've caught. And the MEA wonders why so many folks don't like their leadership. Maybe something like this can send a message, or at least a Mark Schaueresque fine.

I wouldn't expect anything less from MEA leadership at either state or local levels. I hope they now enjoy Tom McMillin as committee chair.

Be careful what you wish for

The MEA is celebrating their victory after taking out Paul Scott. Scott is fairly conservative, but his replacement is a lot more conservative when it comes to educational issues. Tom McMillin.

As the left wing Huffington Post says.

Well, guess what? There seems to be no plan to change course. As Ballenger predicted, the recall has resulted in a worse outcome for Michigan teachers, as today Speaker of the House Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) named state Representative Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills) to serve as the interim chair of the Education Committee. The Michigan Information and Research Service recently named McMillin as the lawmaker in the state with the most conservative voting record, and he's long been opposed by the MEA because of his support for public school privatization.

As former GOP Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop tweeted, "The MEA spent $150k dollars only to get their nemesis, Representative Tom McMillin, appointed as the chairman of the education committee."

Politics is a marathon and not a sprint and one must always be prepared for unintended consequences. Right now, all the MEA did was piss off the GOP, even those who are less hardline than say a McMillin. McMillan's district is a lot more difficult for the dems, even with redistricting making his new district slightly more difficult. I don't think the MEA wants McMillin as chair.

But but but.....doesn't this recall send a message that they can't do this? The answer is this. They recalled someone. So what. I repeat. So what. Screw it.

Here's why.

Paul Scott was recalled in an odd number year with low turnout. The MEA is master of the low turnout odd number year election. That's their win. They got it. Give them credit.

However, there's a decent chance that all that money was spent for one thing. A vacancy. Why?

A. The special election for Scott's replacement is the same day as the presidential primary. There will be some crossover votes, but the GOP will turn out heavily that day for obvious reasons. Advantage GOP. If the GOP wins the open seat in February, than all the MEA won with the recall was 3 months of one less GOP vote and bragging rights. If this recall took place in say 2005, then it would be much more significant than in 2011.

B. Redistricting. Genesee County lost population. Grand Blanc and Mundy Twp join with Burton. Burton is solidly democrat. The dems are going to take that seat barring a massive upset. The new 51st trades off Grand Blanc and Mundy for the Flushing area and parts of North Oakland County. I didn't run the numbers, but it is probably more republican than the old district thanks to Groveland and Rose Twps in Oakland County. So even if the dems take the old 51st, the new one is going to be much harder to keep. Doh!

As the old saying goes, don't hunt what you can't kill.

Election 2011 (Paul Scott, County races, MEA)

Many places have an election this upcoming Tuesday. Here's a list of the jurisdictions where there is an election.

In Livingston County we have several contested elections.
City of Brighton - Council
City of Howell - Council and Mayor
Brighton School Board
Green Oak Township millage.
I don't believe Pinckney Schools are contested. I haven't followed Byron, Morrice, Webberville, or Linden. Those school districts have elections, but they may or may not be contested.

Over in neighboring Genesee County, Paul Scott is up for a recall. The big reason he is being recalled is because the MEA doesn't like him. Instead of spending money on kids, the MEA put in over $150,000 towards defeating one person. Paul Scott. Paul Scott is chair of the education committee. If you are tired of the games the MEA plays, which include borderline and even illegal mailings, a message can be sent. Hopefully the 51st district will vote NO on the MEA recall. This recall is purely about the muscle and power of the MEA. This is the same MEA who is involved in intolerance, questionable mailings, and blatent lawbreaking. That is the MEA way. If Paul Scott survives the recall, it will be a major blow to the MEA leadership. Good luck to Paul Scott.

Speaking of the MEA, in Brighton, they have a sneaky mailing out endorsing Bill Trombley. Beth Minert has donated to MEA PAC in the past. The best choices for Brighton Schools are Nick Fiani and Greg Rassel. Fiani is a solid conservative and will be in the same mold as Miles Vieau. Rassel isn't with us 100%, but he is more good than bad and did not vote for the bad contracts. Fiani and Rassel are the best two running.

Brighton City Council. In the city, the incumbents are all running as a team with one challenger. Susan Walters Steinacker. Susan is the city watchdog closely scrutinizing all of the expenditures. The incumbents are Jim Bohn, Claudia Roblee, Jim Muzzin, and Chad Cooper. Muzzin and Cooper pushed to limit the call to the public. Bohn and Roblee opposed it. I took issue with Roblee back when she complained about the Bulldogs logo on some of the city decorations, but that's minor compared to limiting call to the public. That I did not support. Arrogance needs to be taught a lesson. The paper doesn't like Susan's brash style. Well, she's going to be brash at the council meetings anyway. If she's on the council, then there's no excuses. Overall though, I think the City of Brighton is a good shape considering the economy. There isn't a gigantic amount of mini-circles there and taxes raised for them.

That gets to the City of Howell. If I still lived there, I'd vote for Phil Campbell for Mayor. I'd vote for Victoria Hertich and Doug Heins for council. It's time to shake up the old boys and girls club there. Streetscape. Tax increases. Free speech zone proposals. Illegal ordinance restrictions on political bumper stickers and signs in car windows on election day. It's time for some changes. Campbell, Hertich, and Heins.

Lastly, Green Oak Township has a millage. Interestingly, the ballot committee did not turn in their campaign finance records on time. They are late and will be fined for each day until it is turned in. Their treasurer is Chuck Fellows, who was the state senate candidate against Joe Hune. You can't be late on those things.

Election day is Tuesday. Get informed. Get further informed. Once you are fully informed, vote. If you are not informed, don't vote.

Intolerance in Howell Schools

I was up north on break and saw a couple of interesting stories. First is the latest from Howell Schools.

Thanks to Jay McDowell, MEA leader and Howell teacher, Howell Schools got itself in the news again. It was something that could have been avoided. This was on a day were several wore purple as an anti-bullying symbol. (On a side note, if you want to stop bullying, start allowing self-defense for once. Nothing stops a bully better than a good right hand impacting the jawbone)

I’ll start out with this. Schools aren’t the place for social issue agendas sanctioned by government. That means Superintendents, Principals, other administrators, or teachers. That goes regardless of which side of the issue. Gay rights agendas and anti gay rights agendas do not belong there. Reading, writing, math, history, and science belong there. Facts belong there.

The closest thing to political agendas which belong in class is related stuff lead by a devil’s advocate and neutral facilitator. My current events class (which was during an election year) I took in Brighton was excellent. The teacher there did an excellent job. I found out later that he leaned left, but did not show it in class. He was tough, but fair to all sides, and that’s how it should be. It was also time, place and manner. An economics class is a different deal. It’s not history class. It’s not government class. It’s not current events. (I have to wonder if there’s anything mentioned besides Keynesian stuff in that class)

From what it sounds, one student wore a Confederate Battle Flag belt buckle to class. The flag has several meanings to different people, not all of them symbols of “hate.” It can mean:

1. Rebel. Some fly the flag as a rebel against all authority.
2. Lynyrd Skynyrd or Southern Rock fans. There’s plenty of Southern Rock fans north of the Mason-Dixon line.
3. Southern heritage. There are a sizable number of Southern and Appalachian Transplants and their descendents in Southeast Michigan with the automobile factories.
4. Some indeed use that flag for white supremacy. Those offended by the flag point to this view and refuse to accept others.

While I have no problems with the flag, I won’t fly or wear the flag as my ancestors were union, and became citizens because of the civil war. Although with the politically correct hype these days, I’m tempted to fly that one as well as the Gadsden Flag. Some people need to be tweaked. I won’t fly it, but I love seeing the left get bent out of shape by that flag.

McDowell was offended by the belt buckle and apparently told the student to remove it. Another student compared wearing the belt buckle to someone wearing gay rights shirts (which was against his Catholic Religion) on the day of bullying. McDowell told the person to leave the classroom. This student repeatedly said he wasn’t against gays, just compared the confederate flag to the rainbow flag.

The perception here is that “tolerance” means follow the left’s agenda and the MEA’s agenda. Period. “Conform or be cast out” to quote the Rush song “Subdivisions.” Jay McDowell could have stood up for true tolerance. He failed. Instead, he, as a fairly high ranked big fish in the small pond government official using the power of authority, bullied and was intolerant to views he doesn’t care for.

What should have happened is a lesson in true tolerance in a real neutral tolerant manner.

1. Explain why the flag is offensive to some. Explain other meanings used of the flag.
2. Explain how homosexuality is against some beliefs, and also how people get offended by that.
3. Also mention the recent suicides and why there is a problem with bullying and how derogatory names for homosexuals are a favorite weapon used and how that is unacceptable. The confederate flag has nothing to do with that.
4. Then on to class.

Many MEA supporters wonder why teachers get maligned. Actions like those taken by Mr. McDowell are the reason why it happens. McDowell’s actions, ironically were the same type of actions as those he claims to oppose - Bullying actions. Conform or be cast out.

McDowell was rightly disciplined. Tolerance includes tolerating views which one does not personally support. That's something the left has a major problem grasping.

Argus Story on the Conely and MEA/8-D Coordinating Council Mailing

I went into detail about the illegality of this mailing here and here.

The Argus investigated the claims by the 8-D Coordinating Council in today's paper. Here's the story on the mailing

Somebody didn't do their homework before sending out a postcard attacking Brighton Area Schools Board of Education candidate John Conely — and it turned out to be leaders of the district teachers' union.

The 8-D Coordinating Council PAC, a political action committee for Livingston County teachers' unions, sent out a postcard last week to Brighton-area voters linking Conely to 21 lawsuits in Livingston County.

The postcard asks, "Is this the kind of person you want for Brighton school board?" The postcard arrived in homes five days before Tuesday's general election.

The Daily Press & Argus reviewed all the cases and learned only 13 of the 21 involved the school board candidate. The other eight cases involved his father, longtime Brighton businessman Jack Conely, whose legal name is John D. Conely.

The mailing said a key word regarding the civil cases mentioned. It said involved. It did not say "found liable." It did not even say who was the plaintiff or defendant, nor mention if there was a settlement. Most of them were landlord tenant related. How often are those cases in court? If a customer did not pay the rent on his car or property, he was sued after a certain period. That's not unusual. I saw "civil infraction" on that list. Contested Traffic ticket. Big deal.

Barry Goode, president of the Brighton Education Association teachers' union and the 8-D Coordinating Council, disputed there were inaccuracies in the postcard.

Barry should get hit his own checkbook ready and pay up for not having his illegal PAC file its Statement of Organization (over 30 days late) and pre-general report.

There's more on the PAC:

The postcard clearly states it was paid with "regulated funds by the 8-D Coordinating Council PAC." The address is the local office of the Michigan Education Association office in Genoa Township. The MEA is the largest statewide teachers' union.

Although the MEA representative for Brighton schools wasn't available for comment, Barb Cameron, UniServ director for Hartland Consolidated Schools and Howell Public Schools, explained how the coordinating council and its PAC operate. Cameron and other UniServe directors are partially funded by the MEA and serve as liaisons between the state and local unions.

Cameron said the coordinating council is comprised of local teachers' union presidents and other teachers, and the PAC is an offshoot of the council. She said teachers donate money, which is separate from their dues, to the MEA. The MEA then distributes a portion back to local PACs. The coordinating council interviews local candidates and makes recommendations.

Cameron said this particular PAC is legitimate and subject to very strict guidelines.

This PAC is currently illegitimate and not following the most basic of guidelines. It's not registered with the Secretary of State nor with the County Clerk. There is no Statement of Organization. There also isn't any pre-general election report filed. As the local MEA's own newsletter points out, this PAC has been in operation for a period. It needed to file, and it failed to do so.

That's why I turned them into the Secretary of State's office.

Latest on MEA and 8-D Coordinating Council related shenanigans

In my last piece, I wrote about MEA being up to its illegal tricks. There's more evidence of illegalities.

Here's the newsletter from the BEA, Brighton's MEA branch. They discussed the PAC they formed here, and have admitted to raising money for the PAC. However, they did not register this PAC with either the County Clerk or the State of Michigan. They also failed to file any pre-general reports, as there isn't even a Statement of Organization. They certainly had enough to do a massive mailing of deceit.

A special thanks goes out to Barry Goode and the MEA's newsletter discussing the PAC. It made things easy when it came to turning your arses into the state. I attached those PAC pages, along with other evidence and sent it to Lansing for official filing.

I talked to a couple people in Howell Schools today, and I'm waiting for a scanned copy of their card. Unlike the Brighton mailing, this was a typical "support candidate x" piece from the MEA. It also has a disclaimer of paid for by MEA PAC (although with the wrong address for their PAC - as their PAC is from East Lansing). The address the MEA used was 3399 E Grand River Suite 203.....their branch office. That's the same office as the "8-D Coordinating Council" which sent the deceitful BS about John Conely.


If you're tired of the MEA and their cronies setting bad examples for our teachers with their illegalities, vote for John Conely in Brighton, or Mike Moloney, and Doug Moore if you're in the Howell School District.

MEA is up to their illegal tricks again

If you are in Brighton schools, you probably got a nasty illegal postcard spreading misinformation and disinformation about John Conely, courtesy of the MEA or its affiliate. This isn't the first time the MEA broke the law in their mailings. More information on that previous illegal mailing is here and here

Here's the front of the postcard with the name and address retracted.

What's illegal about that? I also said MEA. That card says something about "8-D Coordinating Council PAC" instead of the MEA. There's the problem. There is no 8-D Coordinating Council PAC registered anywhere in the Secretary of State's website, nor is it registered at the county clerk's elections division. I called the clerk's office today, and I checked their website. The PAC is not registered.

From the Michigan Campaign Finance Act

169.247 Printed matter or radio or television paid advertisement having reference to election, candidate, or ballot question; names and addresses; rules; exemptions; statement that payment made “with regulated funds”; violation as misdemeanor; penalty.

Sec. 47.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and subject to subsections (3) and (4), a billboard, placard, poster, pamphlet, or other printed matter having reference to an election, a candidate, or a ballot question, shall bear upon it the name and address of the person paying for the matter. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and subject to subsections (3) and (4), if the printed matter relating to a candidate is an independent expenditure that is not authorized in writing by the candidate committee of that candidate, the printed matter shall contain the following disclaimer: "Not authorized by any candidate committee". An individual other than a candidate is not subject to this subsection if the individual is acting independently and not acting as an agent for a candidate or any committee.

(2) A radio or television paid advertisement having reference to an election, a candidate, or a ballot question shall identify the sponsoring person as required by the federal communications commission, shall bear the name of the person paying for the advertisement, and shall be in compliance with subsection (3) and with the following:

(a) If the radio or television paid advertisement relates to a candidate and is an independent expenditure, the advertisement shall contain the following disclaimer: "Not authorized by any candidate".

(b) If the radio or television paid advertisement relates to a candidate and is not an independent expenditure but is paid for by a person other than the candidate to which it is related, the advertisement shall contain the following disclaimer:

"Authorized by ............................................".
(name of candidate or name of candidate committee)
(3) The size and placement of an identification or disclaimer required by this section shall be determined by rules promulgated by the secretary of state. The rules may exempt printed matter and certain other items such as campaign buttons or balloons, the size of which makes it unreasonable to add an identification or disclaimer, from the identification or disclaimer required by this section.

(4) Except for a candidate committee's printed matter or radio or television paid advertisements, each identification or disclaimer required by this section shall also indicate that the printed matter or radio or television paid advertisement is paid for "with regulated funds". Printed matter or a radio or television paid advertisement that is not subject to this act shall not bear the statement required by this subsection.

(5) A person who knowingly violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or imprisonment for not more than 93 days, or both.

OR they did not file a Statememt of Organization for not being registered.

169.224 Statement of organization; time for filing; late filing fee; violation as misdemeanor; contents of statement; name of sponsor; amendment; statement as to receipts or expenditures; filing statement indicating dissolution of committee; exception.

Sec. 24.

(1) A committee shall file a statement of organization with the filing officials designated in section 36 to receive the committee's campaign statements. A statement of organization shall be filed within 10 days after a committee is formed. A filing official shall maintain a statement of organization filed by a committee until 5 years after the official date of the committee's dissolution. A person who fails to file a statement of organization required by this subsection shall pay a late filing fee of $10.00 for each business day the statement remains not filed in violation of this subsection. The late filing fee shall not exceed $300.00. A person who violates this subsection by failing to file for more than 30 days after a statement of organization is required to be filed is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00.

(2) The statement of organization required by subsection (1) shall include the following information:

(a) The name, street address, and if available, the telephone number of the committee. If a committee is a candidate committee, the committee name shall include the first and last name of the candidate. A committee address may be the home address of the candidate or treasurer of the committee.

(b) The name, street address, and if available, the telephone number of the treasurer or other individual designated as responsible for the committee's record keeping, report preparation, or report filing.

(c) The name and address of the financial institution in which the official committee depository is or is intended to be located, and the name and address of each financial institution in which a secondary depository is or is intended to be located.

(d) The full name of the office being sought by, including district number or jurisdiction, and the county residence of each candidate supported or opposed by the committee.

(e) A brief statement identifying the substance of each ballot question supported or opposed by the committee. If the ballot question supported or opposed by the committee is not statewide, the committee shall identify the county in which the greatest number of registered voters eligible to vote on the ballot question reside.

(f) Identification of the committee as a candidate committee, political party committee, independent committee, political committee, or ballot question committee if it is identifiable as such a committee.

(3) An independent committee or political committee shall include in the name of the committee the name of the person or persons that sponsor the committee, if any, or with whom the committee is affiliated. A person, other than an individual or a committee, sponsors or is affiliated with an independent committee or political committee if that person establishes, directs, controls, or financially supports the administration of the committee. For the purposes of this subsection, a person does not financially support the administration of a committee by merely making a contribution to the committee.

(4) If any of the information required in a statement of organization is changed, the committee shall file an amendment when the next campaign statement is required to be filed. An independent committee or political committee whose name does not include the name of the person or persons that sponsor the committee or with whom the committee is affiliated as required by subsection (3) shall file an amendment to the committee's statement of organization not later than the date the next campaign statement is required to be filed after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this sentence.

(5) When filing a statement of organization, a committee, other than an independent committee, a political committee, or a political party committee, may indicate in a written statement signed by the treasurer of the committee that the committee does not expect for each election to receive an amount in excess of $1,000.00 or expend an amount in excess of $1,000.00.

(6) When filing a statement of organization, an independent committee, a political committee, or a political party committee may indicate in a written statement signed by the treasurer of the committee that the committee does not expect in a calendar year to receive or expend an amount in excess of $1,000.00.

(7) Upon the dissolution of a committee, the committee shall file a statement indicating dissolution with the filing officials with whom the committee's statement of organization was filed. Dissolution of a committee shall be accomplished pursuant to rules promulgated by the secretary of state under the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.

(8) A candidate committee that files a written statement pursuant to subsection (5) shall not be required to file a dissolution statement pursuant to subsection (7) if the committee failed to receive or expend an amount in excess of $1,000.00 and 1 of the following applies:

(a) The candidate was defeated in an election and has no outstanding campaign debts or assets.

(b) The candidate vacates an elective office and has no outstanding campaign debts or assets.


History: 1976, Act 388, Eff. June 1, 1977 ;-- Am. 1977, Act 311, Imd. Eff. Jan. 4, 1978 ;-- Am. 1985, Act 138, Imd. Eff. Oct. 22, 1985 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 95, Imd. Eff. June 21, 1989 ;-- Am. 1994, Act 117, Eff. Apr. 1, 1995 ;-- Am. 1999, Act 237, Eff. Mar. 10, 2000
Admin Rule: R 169.1 et seq. of the Michigan Administrative Code.

Either way it is $1000 that either the MEA or the so called "8-D Coordinated Committee PAC" should owe for their violatons. What brings the MEA involved here. Notice the address. 3399 E Grand River Suite 203, Howell MI. That is HQ for Central Zone MEA 8d

The MEA has a PAC. Why haven't they just used their PAC address? Maybe because it has an East Lansing official mailing address and they did not want that going out to voters. Maybe because they don't have the most stellar reputation in this county due to the antics of Joyce Powers and company on the Brighton School Board. John Conely is a threat to them, and they know it.

Either the MEA used a false address and name for their disclaimer, or their local affiliate failed to register as a PAC. Either way, they resorted to illegal tactics to do so. It's not the first time. That's how the MEA does things. It's unacceptable, and I'm turning them in for the 2nd time.

Complaint filed against MEA for illegal mailing

Back on April 27 I broke the story about East Lansing's MEA breaking the law in their illegal campaign contributions. The Argus on May 2 confirmed the illegalities by the MEA.

The campaign finance laws are tricky in some respects. Other parts are basic and no brainers. Now, the MEA's PAC is an elite campaigning organization. They know all the tricks. This one was a no brainer. I think everyone knows that all the campaign advertisements to the public need to disclose the committee which paid for them, as well as the address of that committee.

MEA-PAC made the decision to mail out illegal independent expenditures in support of their two candidates, Dan Fondriest and Ed Literski. On their expenditure, they did not mention they were from East Lansing, nor did they disclose who paid for those advertisements. It was a shady move, and thanks to a few watchful eyes, they got caught.

This is an open and shut case. As such, I did the proper thing and filed a formal complaint with the bureau of elections against the East Lansing based MEA PAC. This complaint was strictly my work and not the work of any organization officially, nor unofficially. If this was a oversight missing just the "Paid for by" message, I'd let it go. If it just missed a return address, I'd let it go. Missing both is flat out unacceptable. Maybe a $1000 fine will send a message.

Latest on Howell Campaign Finance Violations, Argus endorses in Brighton

First, Dan Meisler of the Argus wrote a story on the illegal MEA mailing. I mentioned the details here titled "Breaking the Law, Breaking the Law" The Argus article is here - From the Argus

A mailing sent out by the Howell Education Association teachers' union in support of two candidates for the Howell Public Schools Board of Education is in violation of campaign finance law because it doesn't identify who paid for it.
The postcards read, in part, "Howell teachers support Edwin J. Literski and Dan Fondriest for Howell school board," and are printed on paper the same shade of light green as the T-shirts union members have been wearing to school board meetings to protest the lack of a contract.

HEA President Doug Norton said it was just an oversight, and shouldn't reflect on the candidates.

"It was an oversight we regret," he said. "We also are confident all recipients understood it was from the Howell teachers and that it was paid for with our PAC dollars."
Norton said the approximately $2,000 spent on the 9,000 postcards was funneled through the Michigan Education Association's political action committee.

"It was supposed to have a 'Paid for by the MEA PAC' on there, but it didn't. The error was ours. It had nothing to do with the candidates we recommend," Norton said.

Neither Literski nor Fondriest said they paid for or reviewed the mailings.
(snip)

I believe that that Literski and Fondriest did not pay for or review the mailing. Fondriest kept this below $1000. Literski has not, but his campaign finance report looked legit to me. Literski is also running with Pratt as a team and not with Fondriest.

However, I don't buy it on the oversight. Besides the lack of a "paid for by MEA", there's no return address either, as their was in last year's mailing. I think Doug Norton is taking one for his team, but it's the MEA who fouled up this and their PAC. The HEA is an affiliate, but MEA is footing the bill. If I had to put money on this, MEA fouled up on purpose so they would not have to put the fact that they are in EAST LANSING, and not Howell. If they forgot only the "paid for by MEA" and had their return address, I'd write it off as a mistake. If they only forgot the return address and listed the "paid for by MEA part", I would have written it off as a mistake. But both of them, and by one of the Michigan's most effective PAC's? I doubt it. The MEA isn't exactly a politican rookie here. It looks better for East Lansing's MEA if Norton takes the heat, since he's from Howell and it can look like a local mistake, and not from non-county residents.

Also, The Argus endores Greg Rassel and Beth Minert for Brighton Schools. Rassel also has the endorsement from Concerned Taxpayers Group's PAC. The endorsement roundup for Brighton is now this:

Brighton Schools
Concerned Taxpayers Group - Irene Besancon and Greg Rassel.
Right to Life - Irene Besancon and Jared Geist
MEA - None listed. There are rumors, but until then that's just it. Rumors.
Argus - Greg Rassel and Beth Minert

Breaking the Law, Breaking the Law - Campaign Finance Violation in Howell Schools election

Folks, we have a campaign finance violation in Howell.

Last year, I got an MEA postcard in the mail for the Howell elections. It was green, with a return address from East Lansing, and mentioned their endorsed candidates.

This year, the postcards are back. They are Green, and have these two messages on them. "Howell teachers support Edwin J Literski & Dan Fondriest for Howell School Board" and "Please remember to vote for Edwin J Literski and Dan Fondriest on Tuesday, May 8."

On that postcard, there is NO MENTION of a "PAID FOR BY..." or even a return address. There is no mention of the organization behind the postcard. That is bigtime illegal. Someone is breaking our campaign finance laws. I do not know who has done so, but I do have some strong suspicions. I do know that it was the MEA (in East Lansing) who gave out postcards last year, of the same color. This year, the MEA has endorsed Fondriest and Literski.

I do not believe this came from the campaigns themselves of Literski and Fondriest. Literski is running with Jeannine Pratt and not Fondriest. The campaign finance reports of Pratt and Literski are out and everything there looks above board as far as I can see. (FYI - their top backers are Howell attorney Tim Livingston, Former board member Mike Hall, Leader of 2005 enhancement millage Bonnie White, Brighton attorney Mike Hatty, and Judge David Reader who is Pratt's boss). While the campaigns of Literski and Fondriest are beneficiaries of the illegal conduct, more likely than not, they did not do it themselves, and probably did not know about it. Those two have no motive for an ad like that.

The MEA has all the motive in the world for this. They are based in East Lansing, not Livingston County. In today's economy, union leadership is not popular in Livingston County. The 2005 millage and higher taxes are not popular either. They are probably guessing that mailing with their logo on it are counterproductive. That gives them a reason to simply say "Howell teachers" and not "MEA-PAC", which is their proper name.

Did they do it? I'm not 100% sure, but I am sure enough to place a bet on it if I was a betting man.

MESSA fight in Howell

One of the big underlying issues in the School Board elections in Howell is the labor contract. MESSA will be a contentious point. The latest from the Detroit News.

The union representing about 460 teachers in Howell Public Schools says negotiations with the district are at a crisis point.

"We are preparing to file an unfair labor practice complaint (with Michigan Employment Relations Commission) against the district for regressive bargaining, and we've applied to be on the MEA critical list," Doug Norton, president of the Howell Education Association, said Thursday.
(SNIP)
Negotiations have been at a standstill since the school board voted Feb. 12 to become policyholder for insurance benefits for teachers and support staff represented by the Michigan Education Association's insurance carrier MESSA

This will be followed closely and is probably issue #1 for Howell.