In the Fine Print: Campaign ads in Michigan paid for and approved by…?

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Multiple candidates for education posts in Ingham, Eaton, Clinton and Jackson Counties hit the radar of a 6 News Investigates review of campaign literature and internet communications as possible violations of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act.

Under Michigan law, publications and videos promoting a candidate require a disclosure called a “paid-for.” It often appears in small print on mailers.

Here’s an example of a proper disclosure on a mailer sent by Lansing Board of Education candidate Simon Verghese:

Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum says while the campaign finance rules may seem onerous and difficult, compliance with the rules is important.

“Disclosures are a basic function of transparency in our government, something that is generally expected of all elected officials,” says Byrum. “If individuals cannot be trusted to adequately disclose as a candidate, how can we be reasonably assured they will be transparent, once in office? The way I see it, this is one of those cases where the relatively small offense, today, tells me that they may be prone to something more serious, later.”

A candidate guide to the MCFA identifies that printed materials from candidates must contain a paid-for disclosure such as this: “Paid for by the CTE Joe Smith, 123 Winners Lane, Lansing Michigan 48933”

Grand Ledge School Board candidate Coban Holmes posted a picture of a door hanger on his Facebook candidate page. This door hanger is literature he distributed, but the “paid-for” disclosure is incomplete as it does not include the address of the candidate committee, as required by MCFA:

“I didn’t realize that the disclosure needed to be on my website as well, this is my first time running for office and I thought it was only required on printed materials. I also learned after I had printed some items that I needed to include my address in the disclosure, which I have included on things I’ve printed since then,” Holmes wrote in response to an inquiry from the 6 News Investigates Team.

In Jackson County, Jackson Public Schools Board of Education candidate Scott Damich posted an image of his lawn signs. The lawn sign does not include the “paid-for” disclosure required by the MCFA.

Damich did not respond to an email sent to his campaign website email address.

Jackson County Clerk Cierra Sowle tells 6 News that concerns about Campaign Finance Act compliance is properly handled by the Michigan Secretary of State.

Damich’s fellow candidate Alaina Sharp posted an image on her Facebook page showing literature she was distributing for her candidacy for the Jackson Public Schools Board of Education. The literature does not appear to contain a “paid-for” disclosure.

Sharp sent 6 News a photograph of her literature revealing it did have a “paid-for” disclosure on it. But the disclosure was added after the item was printed.

“You should’ve heard my groan of frustration as I realized 10 minutes after I submitted my orders for the door hangers that I had forgot to put the paid for disclaimer on them!” she wrote in an email to 6 News. “I can’t tell you how many afternoons and evenings my kids and I have sat in the living room, taping those silly labels onto the backs of door hangers! it was one of those moments where being a mom of five, a full-time teacher, and trying to run as a candidate did not serve me well. My brain just totally forgot to add it onto the design. None of them went out until they paid for label was on there thank goodness.”

The Michigan Campaign Finance Act requires the “paid-for” disclosure on printed items, such as yard signs and campaign literature, and on websites.

Neither Damich nor Sharp have such disclosures on their websites.

In an email, Sharp says she didn’t think she had to have a disclosure on her website because it was free. 6 News sent her the candidate guide, and she responded by acknowledging she was updating the “free website” to include the disclosure.

In the Waverly Board of Education race, Andrea Torres has a website that does not have the full campaign finance “paid-for” disclosure.

Torres did not respond to an email inquiry.

In the Lansing Community College race, candidate Hope Lovell, who is running unopposed for a two-year team on the board, has an improper “paid-for” disclosure on her website.

Lovell did not respond to an email inquiry.

Also in the race for the Lansing Community College Board of Trustees, Taylor Chatum also failed to properly display the “paid-for” disclosure on her website.

Chatum’s campaign responded to an inquiry from 6 News with the following emailed statement:

“We have rectified any campaign concerns regarding rules and/or regulations to this important campaigning process,” the email read in part.

Kyle Richards, another candidate for the Lansing Public Schools Board of Education, also had a website with an incomplete “paid-for” disclosure.

“I’m a first-time candidate. As human beings, doing anything for the first time we’re bound to make mistakes,” Richards wrote in an email to 6 News. “It’s how we respond and learn from our mistakes that matters. I’ve updated my website footer to include a proper disclosure in accordance with Michigan Campaign Law and am grateful for the opportunity to correct this error in the public square.”

Joshua Crim, another candidate for the Lansing Public Schools Board of Education, also had no “paid-for” disclosure on it. He did not respond to an inquiry from 6 News. But his website on Monday had a full “paid-for” disclosure on it.

East Lansing Public School Board of Education candidate Gary Holbrook did not have a disclosure on his website. But after being contacted by 6 News, he updated his web page to include the disclosure.

Grand Ledge Board of Education candidate Coban Holmes’ website, which QR codes on his campaign door hangers — discussed above — also did not contain the full “paid-for” disclosure.

“I’ve updated my webpage to include a disclosure and materials that I print now include my address. I endeavor to create materials that are honest and transparent. I appreciate the feedback to ensure that I follow campaign laws,” Holmes wrote in a response to 6 News.

Another Grand Ledge Public Schools Board of Education candidate Matt Oppenheim’s website also has a partial disclosure.

Oppenheim responded Friday to a 6 News inquiry.

“Thank you very much for bringing this to my attention,” he wrote in an email. “The learning curve on campaign compliance has been steep, especially considering I am not a full-time politician. I am a teacher, a parent, and a concerned citizen in the city of GL.”

Candidate Kali Stevens also had a partial “paid-for” disclosure on her website. She changed that after being contacted by 6 News Thursday.

In response to an email inquiry from 6 News, Stevens had this to say.

“I sincerely apologize for the oversight regarding the website disclaimer,” she wrote in an email. “Once I became aware of the issue, I took immediate action to ensure that the necessary disclaimer was added to the bottom of my campaign website.”

But then there’s…

Not all education races are subject to the same rules and regulations, points out Clinton County Clerk Deb Sutherland.

In Clinton County, Ovid-Elsie Board of Education candidate Becky Taylor Williams posted this photo of her campaign yard sign which does not appear to have the ‘paid-for’ disclosure.

Taylor Williams tells 6 News by phone she has not raised or spent more than $1,000 in her quest for election. She says she is “in full compliance” with MCFA.

Sutherland tells 6 News she has contacted candidates to inform them of the requirement to have the ‘paid-for’ disclosures on their publications.

In Potterville, which is in Eaton County, the 6 News Investigates Team discovered multiple yard signs promoting three candidates for the Potterville Board of Education. These yard signs do not include the “paid-for” disclosures.

Eaton County officials declined to make contact information for the three candidates available. The three candidate’s Facebook pages – Jason Baker , Sara McDonald , and Sarah Vandenboss -do not allow people who are not friends to message them.

However, Potterville Public Schools has less than 1,000 pupils likely meaning the three candidates are not subject to MCFA rules.

Eaton County Clerk Diana Bosworth sent 6 News this statement by email on Wednesday about MCFA compliance.

“Campaign finance law exists for the benefit of the voters, so they know how and where money is being spent by those wanting to get elected. These laws encourage transparency and fairness. Complying, as frustrating or confusing regulations may be to some, is the law and must be followed. There are many nuances to the laws, with some dependent on population size or the office a candidate is running for, among other things. If a campaign or individual is not in compliance, the State has the authority to enforce the laws.”

Diana Bosworth, email statement to 6 News October 16, 2024

The social media rules

While websites are covered by the MCFA, as are paid social media advertisements, social media promotion that is unpaid does NOT require a ‘paid-for’ disclosure. It’s a loophole in the law, says Byrum, the Ingham County Clerk.

If, however, the social media item is part of a paid ad on a platform it does require a “paid-for” disclosure including the name of the committee and the address.

Here’s an example of a social media promotion that did not require a ‘paid-for’ disclosure under MCFA.

Byrum says while it’s not required to have the “paid-for” disclosure for such social media posts, she’d like to see candidates doing so.

“All other social media should have a disclaimer to not create such confusion and work for the Clerk’s office 19 days out,” she texted 6 News.

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