Did a CT advocacy group’s email violate campaign finance law? SEEC investigating

State elections enforcement officials are investigating a complaint that alleges CT169Strong, an organization that has lobbied against Democratic-sponsored housing and zoning legislation in recent years, illegally assisted one of the group’s members who is running for a seat in the state legislature.

The complaint, which the State Election Enforcement Commission voted to investigate at the end of June, accuses the group of improperly aiding Alexis Harrison, who helped found CT169Strong in late 2022 and is running as a Republican in the 132nd House District in Fairfield.

At issue in the complaint is a message that CT169Strong distributed in May as the group was lobbying against the so-called Work Live Ride bill , a piece of legislation that would have encouraged towns to approve more apartments near train and bus stations.

The message the group sent out in an email included a screenshot of the vote tally for the bill in the House and included a sentence that specifically referenced the upcoming general election this November, when every state House seat will be up for grabs.

“REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER, THIS IS THE VOTE TALLY IN THE HOUSE! VOTE SMART IN 2024…” the message read.

By then, Harrison had already registered to run for the state legislature, which placed a whole new set of rules on her as a candidate.

Steven Sheinberg, chairman of Fairfield’s Democratic Town Committee, filed the complaint against Harrison and CT169Strong, and he argued the message the group disseminated advocated for the defeat of multiple state House candidates, including Harrison’s Democratic opponent Rep. Jennifer Leeper, D-Fairfield.

As a result, Sheinberg argued the message was an illegal expenditure under the state’s campaign finance laws.

“While this is not the most egregious violation of campaign finance law, I am concerned that if this behavior is left unchecked, more flagrant and damaging violations may occur,” Sheinberg wrote. “I am deeply concerned that this email list will be used by a candidate for State Representative as an impermissible benefit again, and I ask the Commission to nip this in the proverbial bud.”

Harrison declined to answer questions about the pending SEEC investigation or the message that prompted Sheinberg to file the complaint. Harrison deferred other questions from The Connecticut Mirror to CT169Strong. In the past, Harrison has regularly issued statements or answered questions on behalf of CT169Strong.

“I want to honor and respect the process and not hinder any questions that the SEEC may have for me or my campaign in the future,” Harrison said.

CT169Strong did not respond to requests for comment.

Groups like CT169Strong, which is classified as a civic or social organization, can spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections under what are known as “independent expenditures.”

Any group making such expenditures, however, are required to file campaign finance reports if they spend more than $1,000. The groups are also barred from coordinating with any of the political candidates they are seeking to assist with that spending.

Sheinberg argued to the SEEC that CT169Strong’s messaging during the session was an independent expenditure, and that Harrison’s dual roles as a state legislative candidate and an active member of CT169Strong was evidence of illegal coordination.

It’s now up to the SEEC investigators and attorneys to determine if that is the case or if the message sent by CT169Strong is not a campaign expenditure at all.

The state’s campaign finance laws can be complicated and they include numerous exemptions under specific circumstances.

A 2018 ruling by the SEEC attempted to clarify some of the rules surrounding such expenditures, especially when it came to so-called grassroots organizations, which CT169Strong describes itself as.

The SEEC pointed out in that ruling that many so-called grassroots organizations avoid the reporting requirements under the state’s campaign finance laws by spending less than $1,000 advocating for the election or defeat of candidates. But the SEEC also emphasized that other portions of the law can still apply to such groups.

“Having no reporting requirements does not mean that no rules apply,” the SEEC wrote. “In particular, attribution rules (e.g. listing who produced the communication) and rules about coordinating with candidates, even if spending relatively small amounts of money, generally apply to these groups, as they do with all others.”

Leeper argues that some of CT169Strong’s messages singled her out, although other suburban Democrats also voted for the Work, Live, Ride bill.

A May 6 email from CT169Strong referenced in the complaint said “we are quite confused by the responses made by” three Democrats, including Leeper specifically during discussion of H.B. 5390, the Work, Live, Ride bill.

“I certainly don’t think it’s best practice to use a private entity that uses lobbyists to spread misinformation once you’re a registered candidate,” Leeper said, of Harrison and CT169Strong.

Housing advocates, Democrats and land use experts have accused CT169Strong of spreading misinformation, although the group maintains that they are ensuring people understand zoning bills.

Leeper said that despite their objections, Work, Live, Ride would have benefitted her district. The Metro-North line runs through Fairfield, meaning the district could have been prioritized for certain state dollars under the law.

“Had that bill passed the Senate, it would have delivered for Fairfield in a way that now our community will no longer be served,” Leeper said.

While Leeper has occupied the seat for the past two terms, it was a Republican district for many years ahead of her election.

The emails in the complaint center around zoning bills, which are likely to be central to the election in the 132nd district. Land use has been a major political issue across Connecticut, particularly in suburban areas.

In addition to her work with CT169Strong, Harrison is a member of Fairfield’s Planning and Zoning Commission.

The Work, Live, Ride bill passed the House in May but wasn’t called in the Senate. Harrison testified against the bill in committee as a member of CT169Strong .

The group has opposed many zoning reform bills over the past few years and hired a lobbyist in 2023.