County officials’ TV spots OK with ethics board

Television commercials for candidates for two Linn County offices meet the state's legal and ethical standards.

County Recorder Joan McCalmant and Deputy Treasurer Sharon Gonzalez, both Democrats, both shot their spots at their respective offices at Linn County West in the Lindale Mall. McCalmant is seeking re-election, Gonzalez her first term as treasurer.

Supervisor Brent Oleson said he's received a few calls from residents wondering if that's legal.

“I'm not allowed to use county facilities to electioneer,” Oleson, a Republican, said at Wednesday's board meeting.

But Oleson, along with McCalmant, Gonzalez, and any other county officer, can as long as other candidates are afforded the same opportunity, said Charlie Smithson, executive director and legal counsel  for the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

“It means anybody has to be able to come in and do it,” said Smithson. “If that's what they want to do, it's okay. You've got to let anybody else who wants to come in and do that.”

McCalmant said she didn't check with the board before taping her commercial, but recalled past candidates' commercials shot at the county's Administrative Office Building.

“Not since we've been (at Westdale), but I know other people have, so I figured there's some precedent,” she said. ”I don't want to break the rules either.”

Gonzalez wasn't available for comment.

Darrin Gage, the county's director policy and administration, said the county has no formal policy on the matter.

Oleson also wondered whether the ads may have violated state law on campaigning within 300 feet of a polling place – in this case, the early-voting station at the auditor's office down the hall. But Smithson that restriction applies only to signs.

“I think it shows a lack of character,” Oleson said. “It was brought to my attention, and I was bringing it to the board's attention.”