New Ethics Commission Rules Restrict Ability To File Complaints
Rule restricting campaign violation complaints begins
By MICHAEL MCNUTT
A rule proposed by the state Ethics Commission that no complaints alleging ethical or campaign violations may be filed against legislative, state or judicial candidates several months before the November general election is now is effect.
The rule is intended to prevent unsubstantiated complaints from influencing elections.
Under the proposal, no complaints could be filed in even-numbered years between the candidate filing period in April and the November general election.
The rule, approved by the Ethics Commission in January, became effective when lawmakers failed to take action against it during the session that ended May 24, the commission’s executive director, Lee Slater, told commissioners during their monthly meeting Monday.