An anonymous tipster sent the Citizen a picture of a phone text that was sent out to an unknown number of people that was authored by the Republican Party of Sierra County.
The text said: “New sign in town!!!,” which shows a campaign sign for Trump on state property.
The fact that the local Republican Party is bringing attention to the sign makes it likely they put it up on state property—in violation of state election law.
It seems inconceivable that the local Republican Party is unaware that in this country the federal, state and local governments are not supposed to tell the people how to vote or to endorse or condemn any candidate. That’s why it is illegal to use any form of government property for campaigning—not a mic at city hall, not a government email address, not a government phone, not a government staff person’s time, not government land to post a campaign sign.
The Republican Party claims that it stands for law and order, but this is the second election-law violation promoting a Republican candidate locally within a week.
A campaign sign for Republican candidate and incumbent for state senate district 35, Crystal Diamond Brantley, was displayed at the Sierra County Fairgrounds: ihttps://sierracountycitizen.org/does-the-government-of-sierra-county-have-a-favored-candidate/
During the Oct. 9 Truth or Consequences City Commission meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Amanda Forrister chided me for writing the article about the county’s illegal endorsement of Brantley instead of writing about “the good things going on” at the fair.
Forrister explained that she is among the Sierra County Fair Board Association volunteers who “sell banners” as part of their fundraising, implying that Brantley was among these sponsors and that her campaign sign was thus displayed on Sierra County Fairgrounds.
In her pique, Forrister made Brantley’s and the fair board’s position worse. She implied, using a city mic to broadcast it, that Brantley bribed the fair board to display her campaign sign. Since the fair board is a subcommittee of the Sierra County Extension of New Mexico State University, it too is supposed to refrain from using its resources for any political endorsement or campaigning.
Forrister’s use of city property and her elected position to trivialize the election-code violation was another violation of election code (see link to prior article above for election code) and the Government Conduct Act, which states, in part:
“10-16-3.1. Prohibited political activities.
A public officer or employee is prohibited from:
- directly or indirectly coercing or attempting to coerce another public officer or employee to pay, lend or contribute anything of value to a party, committee, organization, agency or person for a political purpose;”
It appears that the local Republican Party and elected-official Forrister are purposely flouting the law—essentially declaring that the law doesn’t matter and that they are above it.
If the sign is illegal, then can any person who wishes to remove it simply pull over and remove it? It’s not on private property. I removed political signs attached to road signs a few years ago, and they didn’t go back up.
I wouldn’t. I think the sign is considered private property and you could get in trouble for removing/taking it.
Unfortunately the Democratic Party seems to be lacking in signs for those of us who have requested some. Thanks so much for pointing out the violations from the Republicans. Easily fixed if they do it.
I’m still waiting for my signs.
Interesting. I don’t know the laws. It seems like if a person “gives” an item to the state, it is no longer private property.
Trump’s campaign would certainly not respond, but Senator Diamond’s likely would, and would hopefully be very happy to correct the misstep made at the fairgrounds.