BY MICHAEL NOYES
HELENA – On Tuesday the state Republican Party issued a statement distancing themselves from recent ad campaigns in certain legislative races funded by a group called “Main Street Advocacy.”
The group has run radio ads and sent out printed material in several contested primary races that highlight the qualifications of selected candidates. The organization is not registered with the Office of Political Practices, although an official with ties to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) reportedly approached the office with questions about ad content before the ad campaigns were launched.
In their release, the Montana Republican Party said the ads were placed by an out-of-state agency and were identified as “Montana GOP” spots.
“Although that assertion may have been innocently intended, the reality is that ads, which are labeled Republican ads and are running in Montana, appear to use the party’s name and also imply the party’s endorsement,” according to the release.
The Montana GOP does not endorse candidates in contested primaries.
Mary Baker, program supervisor for the state Office of Political Practices, said the office has been contacted with concerns about whether the ads might be in violation of campaign guidelines. However, she said no formal complaint has been filed and the office would not launch a formal investigation until a formal complaint is filed.
“At first blush it appears they are (in violation)” Baker said of the ads.
House Rep. Bob Wagner, whose opponent in the upcoming primary is highlighted in an ad sponsored by the group, said it shouldn’t take a formal complaint for the Office of Political Practices to launch an investigation if they are aware of an issue.
“Either they broke the damn law or they didn’t,” Wagner said.
