Probe under way

THURSDAY, July 30 — Third Ward City Councilwoman A’Lynne Boles is facing questions on several fronts for campaign activities in the run-up to Tuesday’s primary election. 

Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum said yesterday she is looking into several possible violations of state campaign law. But the bigger issue may be an ethical one over Boles’ use of city funds to send a newsletter to select constituents in the last weeks of the campaign. 

“My office has several investigations going related to A’Lynne Boles and her candidate committee,” Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, the county’s top election official, said yesterday.  

Those include the alleged failure to include the words “paid for” on a piece of campaign literature and to report what it cost. Also, Boles reported several hundred dollars in campaign expenses for fundraisers but not when the fundraisers were held or how much was raised. 

“Not having a disclaimer on a campaign piece is a violation of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. That's fundamental stuff,” said Rich Robinson, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network.  

“‘[The piece] has the campaign address on it. It just does not have those words,” Boles said. “I don’t know how that happened.” 

The campaign literature was purchased from an Illinois printer on June 26, but Boles campaign report does not include that expenditure.  

“There was a receipt submitted to the treasurer [of the Boles campaign committee],” Boles said. She was unable to explain why the expense was not noted in her report, which she signed. 

Also raising eyebrows for political watchers are two constituent newsletters Boles sent to voters using taxpayer resources, including Council staff time, printing resources and tax dollars to pay for mailing.  

Boles said yesterday that the newsletter was to replace her monthly “Second Saturday” meeting with residents. She said she had suspended those meetings for the summer but “promised to keep people informed about what I was doing and what was happening.”  

The newsletter was that information delivery vehicle, she said.  

The first newsletter was mailed this month to 1,050 people. Boles said the list she mailed to included “random” selections from the Ward’s absentee voter list as well as people who had attended her Second Saturday events and requested to receive information. She said she worked with City Council staff to whittle the list, purchased from the City Clerk’s Office.  

A second newsletter will be sent to 3,000 people in the Third Ward, Boles confirmed. That list includes “random” selections of Ward’s primary voter list as well as those who attended Boles events such as Second Saturday and requested information.  

City Council staff are printing, folding and preparing up to 300 copies of the second newsletter each day, City Council office manager Sherrie Boak said. As they get folded, they are sent to a pre-sort mail operator for postage and processing.  

“Why is this an issue now?” Boles asked, expressing exasperation at what she characterized as a political attack. “It was meant to be a service to people.”  Robinson said the mailings are legal but shouldn’t be. 

“I know the Legislature prohibits its members from putting their photos in official newsletters beginning in May (I believe) of election year; and they stop all government-sponsored newsletters later in election year,” he said by email. “That may be a rule, rather than a law, but I think it's the right thing to do. The City should have such a rule or law.” 

Political consultant Joe DiSano of Mainstreet Strategies was less circumspect with his criticisms. 

“I think it's pretty sketchy to be using city resources to mail absentee ballot voters this close to when voters are actually making choices,” DiSano said. “I won't say it's unethical but it sure stinks to high heaven that she is getting away with this. Someone needs to tighten this process up.” 

Meanwhile, Boles has used photos of herself and uniformed Lansing police officers in violation of departmental policy. 

Police Chief Michael Yankowski said today he is trying to reach Boles about it.  “It is against our police for officers to endorse or appear in any campaign materials advocating for or against a candidate and wearing the uniform,” Yankowski said. “We notify the candidates it’s against our policy and procedures and respectfully request that they stop using the campaign materials in question.” 

Boles is one of three candidates in Tuesday’s election. Two of them will be chosen to run against each other in the November primary election.