Mailer attacking Collins criticized

Friday, Aug. 27, 2004 | 9:33 a.m.

Democratic Assembly candidate Brent Howard is convinced that Tom Collins, the man who is leaving the Assembly District 1 seat, has annointed his own replacement for the seat.

So Howard recently sent out a mailer attacking Collins' record -- even though Collins is not in his race. Howard is running in the Democratic primary against Marilyn Kirkpatrick -- who Collins supports -- and Ricki Barlow.

"I'm trying to say she's a part of him," Howard said of Kirkpatrick. "He's not doing a good job, so how can you vote for her?"

Collins left his Assembly seat to run for County Commission District B.

Gary Gray, who is consulting for both Kirkpatrick and Collins this election season, wrote a letter last week to the secretary of state to complain about Howard's mail piece.

Since Collins is a candidate for another office, Howard should have to file campaign reports as though he is a third party intervening in the County Commission race, Gray said.

"He used the back half of his piece to attack Tom Collins," Gray said. "Since that isn't his race, I see that as an independent expenditure."

The secretary of state's office has not yet addressed the complaint, spokesman Steve George said.

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