State Dems Report 'Illegal' Campaign Leaflets to AG

One day before a big city election, and it's getting ugly.

On Monday, the New Hampshire Democratic Party filed a complaint with the state Attorney General's office seeking an investigation into "potentially illegal campaign flyers benefitting Republican State Rep. candidate Peter Silva’s campaign and the state Republican party."

Asst. State Attorney General Steve LaBonte, of the civil bureau, confirmed he received the complaint which was submitted, along with photographic evidence of the fliers that had been inserted under roadside mailbox flags, and of a vehicle making the rounds –and even the license plate number of the vehicle. 

Two fliers were distributed, according to NH Democratic Party spokesman Harrell Kirstein, both taking swipes at Silva's opponent, Latha Mangipudi, neither flier with the details required by New Hampshire election law, under NH RSA 664:14, which calls for any political advertising to be signed with the names and addresses of the candidate responsible for the material, and the fiscal agent – whether its coming from a political group or individual.

That point was confirmed by Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan. 

"It is not unusual for fliers to be sent out during an election cycle, and every election there are complaints about the nature and content of fliers. They have to be looked at individually, but it does fall under RSA:664, and they do need to be signed," Scanlan said.

Silva was unavailable for comment on Monday. However, Republican State Chair Jennifer Horn said the literature did not originate from the State Party. She also said Silva told her he knew nothing about it.

"I can tell you it didn't come from the Party," Horn said. "I don't know anything about it, but we think everybody should follow election law," Horn said.

LaBonte said the matter would not likely be resolved prior to the Nov. 5 election.

"We can't say when it will be resolved. I know those who brought it forward were  hoping something could be done immediately, but we have to investigate," LaBonte said.  

Speaking in general terms, if someone violates the state election law by circulating unsigned campaign material, that would result in a "cease and desist" order being filed, LaBonte said. 

"There's a process involved," he said. "This time of year, it's not uncommon to receive this type of complaint."

The Ward 8 State Rep seat has been a highly competitive race. Mangipudi won the Democratic primary following a recount in which a large number of ballots had been discovered miscounted.

Silva has been under fire over the past few weeks for comment he made about Mangipudi's supporters, which were described by some as "racist." 

That's not the only hot race in Nashua causing tempers to boil. 

Over the weekend, campaign material sent out by Alderman-at-Large candidate Mark Cookson was criticized for featuring a photograph of a sample ballot that excluded candidate Diane Sheehan's name from the list of six At-Large candidates. Cookson has issued a statement that it was a printing error and oversight.

Sheehan had previously cried foul after being excluded from an event during the October Republican Committee meeting billed as an At-Large candidate forum.

And in what some might see as typographical error irony, Cookson's candidate profile was reportedly left out of a voter's guide printed in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, a mistake that Horn said "could potentially have a significant impact on the election results."

Speaking of voters guides, here's ours.

Also, undecided voters may tune in to Nashua Channel 96 for upcoming rebroadcasts of the following televised forums:

Monday, Nov. 4, 2013 

8 PM    People's View - Board of Education Forum
9:39 PM    People's View - Board of Alderman Candidates

Tuesday, November 5, 2013
9 AM    Chamber of Commerce -  Board of Alderman Candidates

11 AM   People's View - Board of Education Forum
1 PM    People's View - Board of Alderman Candidates