Group accused of violating election laws
CARSON CITY - The secretary of state's office has sent an enforcement letter to a political action committee that created a website attacking Senate District 9 Republican candidate Mari Nakashima St. Martin of Las Vegas.
In the letter released Monday, Deputy Secretary of State Scott Gilles accused Republicans United of violating two election laws and advised the group, headed by "Steve Parsons" of Lynnwood, Wash., to contact his office by Wednesday or he will turn the matter over to the attorney general for enforcement.
He noted that Republicans United did not register with the secretary of state until May 29 after it had posted a maristmartin.net website attacking St. Martin.
Gilles said state law requires political action committees to file with his office before making any expenditures. It also requires political action committees to report expenditures by May 22 or face fines of $50 a day for each day they are late in filing the required forms.
St. Martin and Republican Brent Jones are engaged in a colorful campaign for the seat in southwest Las Vegas, and each side has attacked the other.
Jones denied last week that he had anything to do with the website, which attacks St. Martin as a "party girl" and includes pictures of her holding glasses of wine. She said she is a social drinker.
Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.
