72°F
weather icon Clear

Muth’s conservative group fined for work in mail campaign

CARSON CITY — The conservative group Citizen Outreach, led by Boulder City Review columnist Chuck Muth, has been fined $10,000, plus attorneys fees and costs of $7,600, for failing to file campaign expense reports detailing the source of funds to pay for mailers criticizing then-Assemblyman John Oceguera in his 2010 re-election campaign.

The judgment on behalf of Secretary of State Ross Miller was filed by District Judge James Todd Russell of Carson City on July 8.

Russell ordered the nonprofit group to file its campaign contribution and expense reports to reflect the expenditures within 30 days.

“This was not unexpected,” Muth said in a statement.

“This ruling was by the same judge who had already ruled against us. We asked for reconsideration. He chose to stand by his original ruling. We will now weigh our legal options,” Muth said.

Miller sued Citizen Outreach in 2011 over a pair of mailers sent out criticizing Oceguera in October 2010 by highlighting his record on tax hikes and by accusing him of being “a double-dipping government employee.”

Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, won re-election, but lost a 2012 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives to Joe Heck last year.

Miller argued the mailers constituted express advocacy “because there is no reasonable interpretation of these communications other than as an appeal to vote for or against a clearly identified candidate on the ballot.”

He also argued Citizen Outreach therefore had to disclose those paying for the mailers as required by state law, a position supported by court rulings in the matter.

Muth told Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Steve Sebelius that he contends the issue is less clear than the state contends.

First, Muth says, there was no definition of “express advocacy” in state law until 2011, the year after his fliers were mailed. Second, most courts have imposed the “magic words” test, and the fliers contained none of those words. Third, he asks if the state could apply the disclosure requirement to independent political bloggers or others. Fourth, he says disclosure would chill both free speech rights and fundraising.

“To us, it is a free speech issue,” Muth says. “I think we should be able to tell voters information about their elected officials’ records so that voters can make an informed decision.”

Muth has vowed to appeal the case to the Nevada Supreme Court.

Contact Capital Bureau reporter Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
Search for Central Market tenant continues

It’s been just short of two months since of a trio of friends, who are also longtime local property and business owners, made an announcement that piqued the interest of many in Boulder City.

About 83% of students feel safe at BC schools

Councilwoman Sherri Jorgensen was full of praise regarding a recent all-schools event at the high school.

Local aid groups get fed grant funding

The city has approved disbursement of almost $255,000 in federally-supplied community development block grant (CDBG) funds to three local entities: the Senior Center, Emergency Aid and Lend A Hand.

Planning commission approves Tract 350 variance request

Toll Brothers bettered their record in front of the planning commission to 2-1 last month when the developer got approval for a variance request related to the width of lots in Tract 350.

Kicking Off the New Year

Boulder City High School held its traditional back-to-school assembly this past Friday. School spirit and enthusiasm filled the gym as classes competed against one another to hold the coveted Spirit Stick. Aside from games, members of the fall sports teams performed to songs.

BC Electric’s Medo makes accusations about e-bike/scooter law

While the great majority of public comment surrounding the issues of unsafe usage — often by juveniles — of e-bikes and electric scooters was firmly on the side of the city “doing something,” not everyone is onboard.

So where does that RDA money come from?

It wasn’t all about donuts or whether super bright pink is an appropriate color for a building in the historic district. In addition to donuts it was about, well, dollars.

King to participate in essay contest

Last week, it was announced that fourth graders throughout the state are invited to participate in an essay contest, with the winner receiving the honor of lighting the 2025 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C.

Really better buy that helmet

With a couple of significant amendments, the city council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance regulating the use of e-bikes and e-scooters in Boulder City. The ordinance passed unanimously Tuesday and will take effect on Sept. 18.