fbpx

Commissioner Dismisses Campaign Complaint Against Governor

Complaint alleged the Bullock campaign coordinated with 11 groups

By Dillon Tabish

HELENA — The Montana commissioner of political practices has dismissed a complaint that Gov. Steve Bullock’s 2012 campaign illegally coordinated with outside groups.

The complaint alleged the Bullock campaign coordinated with 11 groups, including unions, political-action committees and political party committees. The allegations were based in part that both the campaign and the groups used the same political consultants, media companies and other vendors.

Motl on Thursday rejected the idea that coordination between a candidate and group making independent expenditures can be assumed based solely on a shared relationship with a vendor or person. He says coordination must be shown through documents or action.

Motl made a similar conclusion Wednesday when he dismissed a complaint by the state Democratic Party that the Republican State Leadership Committee coordinated with Attorney General Tim Fox’s 2012 campaign.