Fact Checker: iVote Fund digs up Pate controversies

Introduction

'Pate exaggerated his academic credentials.'

'Reprimanded by state ethics board.'

'Used his office for politics.'

'Personally trademarked state-owned slogans.'

Source of claim

iVote Fund

Analysis

In a rhyming, Dr. Seuss-style ad, the iVote Fund attacks Paul Pate, a Republican and former Cedar Rapids mayor running for Iowa Secretary of State.

iVote is a left-leaning interest group that has bought TV time in four states, including Iowa, to support Democrats 'who seek to encourage participation by expanding access for eligible voters,' according to the group's website.

The 30-second ad digs up past controversies involving Pate, who served as a state senator from 1989 to 1995, Secretary of State from 1995 to 1999 and Cedar Rapids mayor from 2002 to 2006.

Claim 1: 'Pate exaggerated his academic credentials.'

A biographical reference in the 1991-1992 Iowa Official Register, also known as the 'red book,' said Pate graduated from the Wharton School of Business when he had only attended a five-day seminar at the prestigious school within the University of Pennsylvania, The Gazette has reported.

When questioned about it, Pate said the reference was an error, which he corrected as soon as he saw the book.

It's difficult to tell more than 20 years later whether a misstatement on Pate's bio was intentional. But it was his bio and he never claimed someone else had written the information. We give this claim a B.

Claims 2 and 3: 'Reprimanded by state ethics board' and 'Used his office for politics'

These claims relate to the same incident in 1998, when Pate unsuccessfully ran for governor.

The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Finance Board reprimanded Pate in February 1998 for four violations alleging Pate volunteers prepared invitations for campaign fundraisers and designed and copied campaign newsletters using state computers and other property after office hours, The Gazette has reported.

Pate agreed to reimburse the state $250 as part of a settlement in which the board absolved him of any knowledge or wrongdoing.

We give this claim a truth grade of A.  

Claim 4: 'Personally trademarked state-owned slogans'

Former Des Moines Register reporter Jeff Zeleny, now ABC News senior Washington correspondent, reported Feb. 3, 1999, Pate sought personal trademarks on five slogans created in the Secretary of State's Office while he led the agency.

At the time, critics said Pate may have been trying to profit from phrases like 'Iowa Kids Caucus' and 'Generation Vote,' but Pate said he wanted to restrict private companies from using the phrases. Pate transferred the slogans to the state and never benefitted from them financially, he told The Gazette Friday.

The claim is true, although it does not appear Pate was trying to make money off the trademarks.

Conclusion

The claims in the iVote ad are old news. The Gazette has written many stories about the controversies over the years. But there are new voters all the time — some who weren't even alive when Pate was elected to the Iowa Senate.

We give the ad's accuracy an overall grade of B.