Mayor and Local Howell Businessmen
violated campaign finance and election laws
Michigan Secretary of
State’s Bureau of Elections issues warnings and businessman fined
Doug Heins
announced today that the Michigan Secretary of State’s Bureau of Elections has successfully
concluded its investigation into alleged violations of the Michigan Campaign
Finance Act committed during last November’s Howell City Council election. Heins,
an incumbent city council member lost his re-election bid to the Howell City
Council had filed complaints of failure to properly identify campaign material and
distribution of anonymous endorsement flyers that were mailed to voters and
handed out door to door.
After a
lengthy investigation by the Bureau of Elections, the complaint against Nicolas
Proctor, current Mayor of Howell, for not providing the correct “paid for by”
committee statement on his yard sign was found valid and Proctor given a warning
by the Bureau of Elections. “The Mayor
ludicrously claimed to the State he had corrected the error during the election
with sticker placed on the yard signs that weathered off, but could not provide
any proof. The Bureau of Elections saw through this claim and correctly cited
him for improper identification of his yard signs” said Heins.
The more
serious complaint against former Howell Mayor Paul Streng for distributing
anonymous flyers was dismissed, but during the investigation, the State had
determined two local businessmen were responsible for creating and printing the
anonymous endorsement flyers during the election.
Mike Hall, President of Cobb-Hall
Insurance and former
Howell School Board Trustee authored
the anonymous flyer and was found in violation campaign election laws for not
identifying a “Paid for by” committee and address on the flyer. Hall was given
a warning by Bureau of Elections.
Don Cortez, Owner of First
Impressions Printing
and current Livingston Educational
Service Agency School Board Member was found to have committed the more
serious felony violation of using corporate funds for printing the anonymous
flyers. Cortez paid a civil fine of $50 to the Bureau of Elections and signed
a four year agreement to comply with elections laws.
“This is a
big deal” said Heins. “Of all the complaints to the State Bureau of Elections
most are dismissed or warning letters issued.
To fine an individual is most unusual.
It shows the seriousness of the violation”
The question
as who mailed out the anonymous letters remains unsolved. The Bureau of
Elections was not able determine who mailed the flyer to local residents,
despite asking questions of the 14 people listed on the endorsement flyer. All respondents
denied any knowledge to who mailed the flyer. Sue Dolato and local businessman Joe Parker did not respond to the State’s request for information.
“The missing
piece in all this is who spent hundreds of dollars to mail out the flyers? It’s hard to imagine one person did this
mailing in secret. If anyone is aware of who did the mailing, they have a
responsibility to contact the Bureau of Elections at 517-373-2540.” Said Heins
“Overall I’m
very pleased at the thoroughness and detail taken by Bureau of Elections in
investigating violations of Michigan Campaign Finance Act. These local
businessmen, have held public office should know better than anyone the
election laws. What’s really troubling is
they don’t even live in the city but decided as outsiders to act behind the
scenes and manipulate the voters of Howell.” Said Heins.
“Campaign
election laws are written to prevent these types of shady actions. The public
has a right to know who is funding and distributing opposition flyers. Whether the
information is positive or negative, knowing who is behind the flyers helps the
public consider the source when choosing who to vote for” said Heins
The complete
investigation documents can be seen online at the Bureau of Elections web Site:
Doug can be reached at dougforhowell@gmail.com
