Campaign attack paperwork late, lacking

The other shoe hasn’t dropped in that last-weekend, direct-mail attack against three Coeur d’Alene City Council members, spearheaded by political activists Kathy Sims and Tom Macy.

The pair, who castigated the council for a routine budgetary maneuver earlier this year, belatedly filed campaign finance papers with City Clerk Susan Weathers on Tuesday. But the report had “huge deficiencies,” according to City Attorney Mike Gridley.

In filing the financial disclosure statements for “Concerned Taxpayers of Kootenai County” a week after the election, Sims and Macy (whose name is misspelled “Macey” on one line of the report) failed to include the required cover page. The cover page discloses the purpose and reporting period of the filing.

Also, the report sent to the city in an envelope without a return address failed to detail expenditures as required and raised a red flag with the city clerk by claiming an estimated 156 contributions of less than $50 for a total of $3,500.

“In my 21 years as city clerk, I’ve never seen a report with (so many) people who gave less than $50,” Weathers told Huckleberries. Political candidates and PACs aren’t required to disclose the names of contributors who give less than $50.

Adding insult to possible campaign violation, an unsigned cover letter with the report stated that Concerned Taxpayers is a countywide committee registered with the secretary of state’s office rather than a citywide one. “Our apologies if this does not meet your cities (sic) requirements,” the statement says, adding: “When next involved with city issues and policies consider us registered.”

Sticklers for state law, like Sims and Macy, should know that’s not how it works. In Idaho city elections, PACs are required to file certain documents with the city clerk before they collect money. City Attorney Gridley said he will decide in a week what to do with this case. Stay tuned.