Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson (Dist. 3) filed an election complaint today against her opponent, Republican Tanner Bell, alleging illegal coordination with with two "supposedly" independent expenditure committees, “Arizonans for a Brighter Future” and “Restoring Pride in Pima County,” and Tagline Media. The Tucson Weekly has been reporting on the previous complaints filed by other candidates against these "dark money" groups.
Bronson files complaint against Tanner Bell’s unlawful coordination with outside groups
“Dark Money” Illegally Attempting to Influence Election
(Tucson, Ariz.) Sharon Bronson today filed with the Arizona Secretary of State a complaint against the Tanner Bell campaign and two purported independent groups that are attempting to illegally influence this election. The complaint details the illegal coordination between the outside groups and the Tanner Bell campaign, as well as numerous other serious election law violations.
Advertising agency Tagline Media handled the Tanner Bell campaign but then reportedly terminated those services to work for two pro-Tanner Bell groups, “Arizonans for a Brighter Future” and “Restoring Pride in Pima County,” in violation of state law prohibiting coordination between candidate campaigns and independent committees.
“These serious and flagrant violations by outside ‘dark money’ groups are an unlawful attempt to influence this election,” said Vince Rabago, Bronson’s attorney, a former Assistant Attorney General. “These laws are essential to ensure transparency in our elections, and Tanner Bell, Tagline Media and the outside groups are engaged in a robust effort to deceive the voters of Pima County. The Secretary of State must step in immediately.”
“For democracy to work, everyone has to play by rules,” said Sharon Bronson, Pima County Supervisor for District 3. “We cannot allow these shady groups and their big money backers to skirt the law. I am happy to do my part to see that they are stopped.”
The complaint also details numerous other violations, including an unlawful extension of credit from Tagline Media to the Tanner Bell campaign, Arizonans for a Brighter Future’s sham status as a business advocacy group, and Arizonans for a Brighter Future’s unregistered and deceptive fundraising.
Today’s action comes on the heels of other similar complaints filed by Republican Supervisor candidates Mike Hellon and Stuart McDaniel and Democratic candidate Nancy Young-Wright which all involve Tagline Media Group.
Additionally, the Maricopa County Attorney recently found that Attorney General Tom Horne’s 2010 campaign committee closely coordinated with another purported “independent expenditure” committee and thus the expenditures made by that group constitute unlawful contributions to the Attorney General’s campaign.
Here is a copy of the complaint filed by attorney Vince Rabago on behalf of Sharon Bronson. PressReleaseandComplaintPackage (.pdf).
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