HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 Election Commission MinutesCity of Lansing - Election Commission
Minutes of Special Meeting
9th Floor Conference Room
June 9, 1995-- _
PRESENT: Marilynn Slade, Dave Tijerina
ABSENT: Jim Smiertka
OTHERS PRESENT:Ted DeLeon, Gr. Lansing Community for Cesar Chavez X-ve4l*'
Melvin McWilliams, Chief Deputy City Attorney
Jodi Upton, Lansing State Journal
Meeting was called to order by Chairperson Slade at 2:05 P.M.
New Business:
A discussion was held regarding a letter from the Greater Lansing Community for Cesar Chavez
Avenue that was referred to the Commission by the Lansing City Council. This letter requested
the Council to take a position on a flyer being distributed by Mr. Fred Stackable regarding
Proposal A on the June 12, 1995 ballot.
Member Tijerina stated that he had reviewed the flyer distributed by Mr. Stackable and felt that
it was not a correct copy of the resolution which was adopted by the Lansing City Council. A
word by word review was then made of the flyer to the resolution and the following discrepancies
were noted:
l/ Mr. Stackable's flyer had the word "with" spelled incorrectly as "witth" in the first
paragraph of the resolution that he quoted
2/ Mr. Stackable's flyer stated "Cesar Chavez Avenue between I-96..." in the third
paragraph of the resolution quoted and should have read "Cesar Chavez Avenue
between I-496... "
3/ Mr. Stackable's flyer has a large "X" in the YES block and the resolution quoted
had nothing in the YES block
Public Comments on Agenda Items
Ted DeLeon, representing the Greater Lansing Community for Cesar Chavez Avenue, stated that
he felt Mr. Stackable's flyer contained deliberately misleading information and changed the format
of the resolution that was adopted by the Lansing City Council.
Communications and Petitions
Letter dated June 5, 1995 from the Greater Lansing Community for Cesar Chavez Avenue
Reports from the Chairperson
Chairperson Slade reported that she had reviewed Mr. Stackable's flyer and completed some
1
research into the requirements of the Campaign Finance Reporting Law. She feels that there is
a possibility that Mr. Stackable violated this law by not filing a statement of organization for a
ballot question committee. She checked with the Ingham County Clerk's Office and no statement
of organization was on file there from Mr. Stackable. If Mr. Stackable spent over $500 for the
flyers and a mailing to absentee voters, he should have filed such a statement of organization.
Further, he should also have placed the wording "Paid for by (Committee Name)" on all of the
flyers.
Action Items
Motion by Member Tijerina:
That the Election Commission support the complaint of the Greater Lansing Community
for Cesar Chavez Avenue with regards to the three discrepancies noted on Mr. Stackable's flyer,
namely:
1/ Mr. Stackable's flyer had the word "with" spelled incorrectly as "witth" in the first
paragraph of the resolution that he quoted
2/ Mr. Stackable's flyer stated "Cesar Chavez Avenue between I-96..." in the third
paragraph of the resolution quoted and should have read "Cesar Chavez Avenue
between I-496... "
3/ Mr. Stackable's flyer has a large "X" in the YES block and the resolution quoted
had nothing in the YES block
VOTE: 2/0
Motion by Member Tijerina:
That the Election Commission send a letter to the Bureau of Elections asking for an
investigation into possible violations of the Campaign Finance Reporting Law by Mr. Stackable.
Possible violations include:
1/ Failure to file a statement of organization for a ballot question committee
2/ Failure to file a pre-election financial report for a ballot question committee
3/ Failure to place the wording "Paid for by (Committee Name)" on flyers mailed to
absentee voters and distributed throughout the city
VOTE: 2/0
Adjournment
Motion by Member Tijerina to adjourn.
VOTE 2-0
Meeting adjourned at 2:25 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
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2
Marilynn Slade, Chairperson, Election Commission
61- C
Date Approved: k2 — 0,7� _`
City of Lansing - Election Commission
June 19, 1995
Mr. Chris Thomas, Director
Bureau of Elections
208 N. Capitol Avenue
Lansing, MI 48933
Dear Mr. Thomas:
As Chairperson of the Election Commission of the City of Lansing, I am writing to you in support of
a request by the Greater Lansing Community for Cesar Chavez Avenue for an investigation by your
office of possible violations of the Campaign Finance Reporting Law.
The investigation would be to determine if Mr. Fred Stackable, 300 N. Cesar Chavez Ave./Grand Ave.,
Lansing, MI; phone: (517) 487-9473, is in violation of Campaign Finance Reporting by:
1/ Failure to file a statement of organization for a ballot question committee
2/ Failure to file a pre-election financial report for a ballot question committee
3/ Failure to place the wording "Paid for by (Committee name)" on flyers mailed to
absentee voters and distributed widely throughout the city
The facts appear to be that Mr. Stackable mailed the attached flyer to the City of Lansing permanent
absentee voter list. This can be substantiated by the attached receipt for absentee voter labels. The
labels purchased totaled 3,334. With the $133.36 for the cost of the labels and the postage rates to mail
3,334 pieces (even with bulk mail), it appears that the threshold of $500.00 for filing under Campaign
Finance Reporting would have been reached with this mailing alone. This same flyer was widely
distributed throughout the city and placed on many public spots (such as utility poles).
If I can be of any assistance to you in investigating this matter, please let me know. I would appreciate
receiving a copy of any response from your office.
Sincerely,
Marilynn Slade
Lansing City Clerk and Chairperson, Election Commission
ATT: 2
cc: Gr. Lansing Community for Cesar Chavez Avenue
(517) 483-4130 City Clerk's Office, 124 W. Michigan Ave. Lansing, MI 48933-1695
VOTE YES FOR
GRAND AVENUE
AN HISTORIC LANSING STREET
June 1 2, 1995
r
,To RETURN the NAME of GRAND AVS'.
NOW, THMUOn BE IT RESOLVED, That the City Councii hereby direcu in accordance
witth the pronsiotu of the City Charter that the foiiowing question be placed on the June 12,
1993 LCC Board of Trustees Election Ballot:
Initiative Petition of Ordinance Enactment
Shd Pet Tea, Streets, tlffties wd PW& Seinfka Code, of the CodifW Ordtaasm of L>asiq
be Amended to Rewe Cesar Mau Arecae to Grad Avewe by Ad&g tW Foiowia= Sft-6w.
1020.13 Naming of Grand Avenue
Cesar Chavez Avenue Between 1-96 and Oakland Avenue Shall
Be Renamed GRAND AVENUE.
X • YES -no
h Cm d membor hes Mu
CUM FOANMY
JUNE 12, 1995
0
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FDR W RER WFUNDOM, PLEASE MUM YR. FRED STAC#(M - 07-9473