WHAT IS THE ST. PAUL DFL HIDING?

Seven years?

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CHRIS COLEMAN'S CAMPAIGN AND SUPPORTERS BUCK
ST. PAUL CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS

St. Paul DFL Hasn't Filed Campaign Reports In Seven Years; "Recall Randy" In Over One Year

St. Paul - After learning that the St. Paul DFL Party has not properly filed campaign finance reports with Ramsey County for more than seven years and that the St. Paul DFL is paying for and producing lawn signs that are potentially illegally coordinated with mayoral candidate Chris Coleman's campaign, the Campaign for St. Paul's Future today demanded an investigation by local authorities and asked the Coleman campaign to disclose and return all contributions received from the St. Paul DFL.

According to public information available at Ramsey County's election office and confirmed with County staff, the St. Paul DFL has not filed the legally required campaign finance disclosure reports in over seven years. The St. Paul DFL last filed their reports with the Ramsey County election office on February 2, 1998, which covered the period of January 1 to December 31, 1997.

"St. Paul voters should be alarmed that the DFL and Chris Coleman are flaunting campaign finance laws," said Campaign for St. Paul's Future spokesman Michael Brodkorb. "By going nearly seven years without properly reporting to voters how they are raising and spending campaign funds, the St. Paul DFL has violated the spirit of good government. By coordinating with groups like this, Chris Coleman has disappointed voters who really care about reforming the behind-close-doors, good ol' boy political process," added Brodkorb.

Chris Coleman was endorsed by the St. Paul DFL on April 30, 2005. Since receiving their endorsement, Coleman's campaign has been coordinating campaign expenditures such as lawn-signs with the St. Paul DFL. Because the St. Paul DFL did not file the legally required Pre-Primary Report due on September 2, 2005, it is impossible to determine if the St. Paul DFL has exceeded the contribution limit to Coleman’s campaign.

Also, Committee 2 Recall Randy.org has not filed the legally required campaign finance disclosure reports in over one year according to public information provided by the Ramsey County election office and confirmed with County staff. This committee maintains a website (www.recallrandy.org), accepts online-contributions, and distributes "Republican Randy" lawn-signs, yet the committee has never filed a campaign finance report listing the committee's contributors and expenditures.

In fact, the organizers of Committee 2 Recall Randy.org have purchased 1000 "Republican Randy" lawn-signs:

"The Duddingstons said that they've given out about 200 of their 1,000 'Republican Randy' signs and that they're getting inquiries about obtaining large quantities of the signs and hinted they're happy to get more.” (Source: City Hall Scoop; "Recalling Recall Randy"; August 18, 2005; accessed at www.cityhallscoop.com on September 20, 2005)

Chris Coleman attended a fundraiser at the home of David Duddingston on August 25, 2005 (Source: City Hall Scoop; "Chris Coleman speech: 'This is greatest city in the world'"; August 30, 2005; accessed at www.cityhallscoop.com on September 20, 2005). David's brother Daniel Duddingston is chair of the Committee 2 Recall Randy.org.

"The Committee to Recall Randy.org should spend less time reminding people about 'Republican Randy' and spend more time remembering to file the legally required campaign finance disclosure forms," said Brodkorb.

"In all fairness, maybe Chris doesn't know the background of the groups he's been taking money from and coordinating with, but we are hopeful that he will condemn their illegal campaign behavior and bring this race back to higher ethical ground," added Brodkorb.

The Campaign for St. Paul's Future is reviewing all legal option available to force Chris Coleman's campaign, the St. Paul DFL, and the Committee 2 Recall Randy.org, to abide by St. Paul's campaign finance and election laws.

"Just because there is a statue of Chris Coleman's father inside the State Capitol, doesn't mean he or his campaign allies can operate with a total disregard for St. Paul's campaign finance and election laws," said Brodkorb. "If candidate Chris Coleman thinks he can ignore the law now, imagine how Mayor Chris Coleman will govern St. Paul if he is elected," concluded Brodkorb.

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