Newport Superior Court to Hold Hearing on Possible Campaign Violations by Anti-Casino Group
Monday, October 20, 2014
The Newport Superior Court will hold a hearing on October 20 at 2 p.m. on a complaint filed by Newport Grand owner Diane Hurley regarding documents from the State Board of Elections.
The complaint claims that the Citizens Concerned About Casino Gambling (CCACG) have violated state campaign finance laws.
“Our opponents continue to blatantly violate laws that were created to ensure openness and transparency in our elections,” said Will Farrell, campaign manager for Jobs for Newport. “The latest filing – and lack of filings – by CCACG with the Board of Elections highlights a consistent pattern of flagrant, on-going violations of campaign finance law, unprecedented in recent Rhode Island history “If Rhode Island’s campaign finance laws are to have any meaning at all, state officials must step in and stop this abuse now.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAccording to the complaint, CCACG failed to report spending on nine half-page advertisements in the Newport Daily News on October, 6, 8-10, 13, and 15-18.
“These ads and videos represent thousands of dollars in campaign spending,” said Farrell. “What else are they hiding?”
CCACG has filed only one new campaign finance report since the 24-hour reporting requirement went into effect on October 6. The report, for the period October 4-10, was filed four days late on October 14. (CCACG did file an amended document acknowledging an anonymous, in-kind contribution of office space for September. This report was filed on October 9.)
Records show that CCACG’s corporate charter was revoked by the Rhode Island Secretary of State on April 13, 2012 and was not reinstated until November 16, 2012, ten days after the 2012 election. During that period, CCACG accepted thousands of dollars in contributions to defeat statewide ballot question two, which proposed adding table games to Newport Grand. State law states that only “legal entities” are allowed to solicit, accept and spend campaign funds.
Newport Grand owner Diane Hurley filed a complaint with the Board of Elections regarding the activities of CCACG during the 2012 election. Two other Newport residents have filed complaints as well.
The three Board of Elections complaints can be read here.
The proposed $40 million private investment to transform Newport Grand into the Newport Entertainment Center will move forward if voters in both the City of Newport and the State of Rhode Island approve Questions 1 and 2 on the November 4 ballot.
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