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Wednesday, April 21, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Census ad
Ross Miller
Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki
Sun archives
- UFC helping state with census count (3-4-2010)
- Foreclosures bring hurdles to getting accurate census count (2-23-2010)
- Hispanics urged to be counted in upcoming census (2-4-2010)
- Charges dismissed against Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki (12-7-2009)
- Lt. Gov. Krolicki wants charges against him dropped (4-13-2009)
- Lt. Gov. challenges AG’s ability to prosecute him (3-2-2009)
- Krolicki pleads not guilty to felonies (12-30-2008)
Secretary of State Ross Miller is facing questions from political opponents over his appearance alongside UFC fighters in an ad encouraging Nevadans to participate in the U.S. Census.
The ad — which features Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters, an octagon girl, UFC President Dana White, and Miller urging people to send in their census forms — has prompted the Nevada Republican Party to accuse Miller, a Democrat, in an ethics complaint of using taxpayer money to further his political career.
The UFC paid for production of the ad, while the state spent $156,723 to air it statewide between March 10 and April 3, Miller said.
Miller called the complaint a “completely silly allegation.”
A Census Bureau liaison asked him to participate in an ad campaign to inform residents that every returned census form is worth $10,000 to the state, he said. Miller is chair of Nevada’s Complete Count Committee, which oversees the decennial census.
Miller is also a fan of UFC, sparring occasionally with White and previously appearing in a get-out-the-vote ad with UFC figures leading up to the 2008 election.
Miller called the UFC “the most powerful brand in the world” for males between the ages of 18 to 24. That group, he said, “is a primary target for outreach, because they’re much less likely to participate” in the census.
He acknowledged the ads could benefit his campaign, but no more than performing other aspects of his job as secretary of state, Miller said.
“Obviously, for someone seeking re-election, my candidacy is going to benefit anytime I’m seen as successfully upholding the duties of the secretary of state,” he said.
Miller appears on-screen for six seconds during the 30-second spot, which is prominently featured on Miller’s campaign website.
Ads promoting state programs and featuring state officials have brought political attacks before.
When Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, a Republican, was a treasurer running for his current post, his primary opponent criticized him for appearing in publicly funded ads promoting a state college savings program administered by his office.
Before the ads appeared, Krolicki asked the state Commission on Ethics for an advisory opinion. The commission found the ads did not violate state law. The opinion also praised Krolicki for suspending the ads before he filed for office.
Krolicki, however, was later indicted by a Clark County grand jury for circumventing the legislative process to use $1.5 million over the years to pay for some of those ads; a judge threw out the case last year.
State Treasurer Kate Marshall has used radio ads to promote the college savings plan, spending $12,000 in the past year, according to her campaign.
Ryan Erwin, a campaign consultant for Krolicki, said he believed there was a “double standard” for elected officials being featured in ads. Republicans are more harshly criticized for it than Democrats. “Everybody should be allowed to or not,” he said.
The $961,550 marketing plan for Nevada’s census was approved by the Legislature.
Rob Lauer, a Republican running against Miller, said his opponent “is clearly running a shadow campaign using that money. He wants to look cool with the UFC people.”
Miller said the ad buy stopped in early April, but may have run for an extra week as public service announcements.
The ads featuring Miller are not the only census ads running in Nevada. Under an $867,000 contract approved by the state Board of Examiners and Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee, an outside agency produced a census ad for $82,000. The state spent $266,855 to air that ad, which does not feature Miller.
In the Nevada GOP ethics complaint against Miller, the party also notes that he listed his secretary of state’s office phone on forms he filled out when he filed for office. Miller said that he simply entered the wrong phone number on the wrong line.
The Nevada Republican Party has also filed a similar complaint against Marshall.
Her campaign manager Gary Gray said she “just absent-mindedly jotted down the office of the treasurer’s phone number ... I don’t think a reasonable person says that quickly jotting down a single number only once where you can be reached if they have a question about your filing constitutes a violation of ethics.”
Sun reporter Brett Okamoto contributed to this story.
Wow...Talk about playing politics. These games really help the people of Nevada! Thanks politicians with so much extra time you look for things to complain about! (Directed @ Both Parties!)
This is an obvious ethics violation and Miller should be forced to concede that he lacks serious judgement.
He also has made it much harder for citizens to use the ballot process to get reforms passed.
So he is anti-democracy.
Both Miller and Marshall have a lack of respect for managing the government money and resources.
They listed their offical government phone numbers to be used for campaign purposes.
They allowed their government workers to handle camapaign phone calls.
They do not deserve to be in office.
This came out of nut-talk republican Radio.
Limbaugh Station, KXNT held "Radio Star" Contests. (take-off on American Idol, Pet Star?)
The station management judged, and surprise! who won? One year the winner was Heather Kidd, "youth outreach campaign worker" for John Ensign and one time Clark County Republican Party Secretary. Another year, it was "Ciera Turns" -whose husband works for the Nevada Policy Institute. She subsequently left the station to be Communication Director for the Nevada Republican Party.
Then Ceira Turns comes back to KXNT one morning to announce "ethics violations" of Miller and Marshall. All very cozy.
Should the station have to file campaign disclosures for all the free airtime they give to Republicans?
What about the stations relationship with the locally held "Sean Hannity Freedom Concerts?, that have been criticised by conservative blogger Debbie Stossel, "VoteVets", and an ethics in government group, for not getting money to Veterans and for misleading people on what percentage of ticket prices went to charity. FTC complaint has been filed.
On April 1, 2010 the manager/PD of KXNT and the CBS station cluster, Jack Landreth, was replaced by long time radio industry manager Bob Agnew.
Maybe he'll decide whether they are running radio stations, or if they are a wing of the Republican Party?
mred said
"Maybe he'll decide whether they are running radio stations, or if they are a wing of the Republican Party?"
The latter is the unvarnished truth, sadly.
PUBLIC AIRWAVES?
Not in the "modern" era of deregulation.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-olea...
The toothless FCC & FTC are shameful shells of their former selves.
The republicans will stop at nothing in thier "GAME" against democrats 'of winning is everything' even to the point of attempting to decieve an unwitting public that a democrat is has done "wrong". The state would have paid to air the add with fed money even if our Secretary of state hadn't participated in it. In addition who more fitting than Secretary of state to try and impress people to respond to the census since it means more money for the state. How damned ignorant are these Rebublican aka "tea party" idiots anyway. Its sad that their are just so many IGNORANT people in leadership setting such incedibly ignorant examples for people in thier party to follow, and alienating otherwise intelligent young people from thier party.
Republicans would do well to really pipe down on this one, especially in light of their political embarrassments named Gibbons and Ensign. If the conservatives really want a substantive bite into questions of ethics, look no further than your own.
So to sum up all the liberal responses to these allegations we end up with; (and I'm paraphrasing here), "Doesn't matter, they all do it"
Just when does it start to matter? When should existing rules be enforced? If it's a violation of a standing rule or law, why can't you guys just admit it and move along? With leadership comes accountability, something that many of our elected representatives seem to have forgotten. And that goes for both sides of the aisle.....
Its been almost 30 days since I sent a simple request to the SOS. If you don't use the expensive expedited service, they drag their heels. About investigating this.
When Republican Krolicki used state money to run ads in which he appeared, he was indicted by the grand jury, and the charges were brought by the Democrat Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto.
As soon as I saw Ross in the commercials I knew he screwed up. First, it is disconcerting that he did not even see this as a problem. Play chess much Ross? Second, his "brain-trust" is brain dead for not stopping this. Wake up Ferrence, Billy V., and Daddy Miller.
The double standard is undeniable. Why is Attorney General Cortez-Masto not bringing this violation to the Grand Jury as she did to Krolicki? Maybe because she was Chief of Staff to Ross's daddy Gov. Bob Miller?
I complement the LV Sun for even writing this story. Fair minded people of either party should strive for equal treatment under the law.
Krolicki was not indicted for using state money for ads. He was indicted for taking interest from a state fund and using the interest for purposes other than had been authorized by the Leglislature. Get your facts straight.
"Miller called the UFC "the most powerful brand in the world" for males between the ages of 18 to 24. That group, he said, "is a primary target for outreach, because they're much less likely to participate" in the census."
Duh. Maybe it's because you need to know how to read and write.
A typical political stunt from the Democrats, and typical hypocracy from the GOP. Both sides are forever drunk with their power sharing. Voters need to disconnect from both parties that have driven this country down the wrong tracks and reclaim it through independent thinking and voting.
And don't even mention the Tea Party . . .
Why you need a census, your life is in a state/federal computer, they just need to put together,or maybe i am asking too much.
The article above states "Krolicki, however, was later indicted by a Clark County grand jury for circumventing the legislative process to use $1.5 million over the years to pay for some of those ADS."
Emphasis on ADS added.
Read the article Dickerson JD.
Hamilton:
"Krolicki, however, was later indicted by a Clark County grand jury FOR CIRCUMVENTING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS" (emphasis added)
"[Miller's] $961,550 marketing plan for Nevada's census was APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE." (emphasis added)
Read the article, Hamilton.
so lets let the dems spend responsibly and justify it to the tune of $157,000.00 for an ad with UFC and Miller to remind people to fill out their census. Thats quite the marketing plan. I call that wise, responsible use of funds!!! Another total waste of tax payers money.
I don't think a reasonable person says that quickly jotting down a single number only once where you can be reached if they have a question about your filing constitutes a violation of ethics." Ohhhh nooo, they really wanted thousands of Nevadans calling with questions, and accidently put down the wrong phone number. Bunch of liars. Hammer down hard on Miller.Dems tried it on Krolicki, give it back to them.
Hey all, have we become so short sighted that all you can see is who is pointing the finger? What the SOS did, in appearing in the ad, was to try to encourage people to fill out the census. Look at the demographics. The whole purpose was to get the forms filled out and sent back so ALL NEVADANS [EMPHASIS ADDED] can get our fair share of money for schools, etc. If the GOP wants to call foul, they're fools. The census could open another chair in the House that they could make a bid for (heaven forbid)along with helping out everyone. PICK..PICK....PICK. Stop pointing the finger and get the job done. Nobodys hands are clean!
Wow seems like a lot of people are going to have to respond just to make up what has been spent on advertising to get people to mail these in.
Spend a million dollars to get five hundred thousand. Smart thinking.