More Hate Calls; PAC's Financials Not On File

More automated calls, similar to the kind bashing Dallas Mayoral Candidate Ed Oakley last month, are apparently being delivered to telephones across the Metroplex. This time, the callers identify themselves as the Heritage Alliance PAC. The PAC's campaign reports, for this election, did not appear on the Texas Ethics Commission's website.

The calls were not welcomed by Oakley's opponent, Tom Leppert who issued a stern statement asking that the calls be stopped.

The Commission's website does not indicate that the PAC has filed a campaign finance report supporting or opposing a candidate in the Dallas Mayor's Race (view campaign finance reports).

Texas election laws require a PAC to file with the Commission 30-days and 8-days (8 days in a runoff) before an election. PAC's are also required to file a report identifying the name(s) of candidates they intend to support or oppose in an election.

PACs can become involved less than 8 days before an election in which case, they are required to file a standard, semiannual report (July, 2007, in this case). Indeed, several files on the Heritage PAC's site indicate they were created on June 8.

However, PACs cannot accept contributions or distribute funds in an election unless appropriate campaign reports have been filed.

The Commission's website shows the Heritage PAC's last campaign report was filed January 16, 2007.

Reports filed electronically generally appear on the Commission's website the day they are filed.

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