Sorry, I just caught this, but it looks like Barranco had another questionable vote buying event. Unlike the event before that at Thunder Road (which was filed as an in-kind donation on his last finance report) this event was NOT at a private facility but one that was owned by taxpayers. I am pretty sure that Great Bear CANNOT provide an in-kind donation to a political candidate and it is likely he paid for this out of campaign funds (at least he should have).
Ironically, I’m not even sure the event took place since Great Bear being open at all is a rarity 🙂
To play the Devil’s advocate, you could argue that candidates hold events all the time at rented facilities where they may provide light foodie and drinkie, but I’m not sure paying for voter’s kids to go tubing is the same.
I have seen many candidates over the years do questionable events that border on unethical, but over the last two election cycles it has exploded into what they can get away with, like the mayor having a FREE two-hour radio ad KELO.
There is a checklist when deciding on a candidate that you should review, and ETHICS should be at the top of that list.
Smart to include the kids. Locally, they’re known to be good at raising campaign funds. But wouldn’t this be what Noem would call “Action Civics”? If so, is it legal, or only when your parents make you do it? #ButIWantToSaveMyAllowance
But is it ever legal? Oh, that’s right, we are under Iowa law. So what does Iowa law say? And south of 57th, isn’t it South Dakota law once again regardless? At least it was for the 2020 convenient voting boxes. And where do most of these kids live? That’s right….
https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2041173
“I once voted for Lincoln Chafee because of hot chocolate and popcorn”….
“Unlimited Snow Tubing” sounds farfetched unless it’s a part of a greater black hole. But given our local government though, it’s probably possible. “Indoor Crafts” sound kind of devilish, however. What do they mean by that? Can we take them home? Why do they have to be done indoors? Do the shades need to be pulled? And hot chocolate, popcorn, crafts, and tubing all sound like a spoiled kids birthday party, too, if you ask me. #DonateYourBirthdayMoney
Is he running for City Council? Or buying play date friends for his kids?
It’s like Blues Clues except when he gets elected he’ll notice that it’s more like The Breakfast Club.
I take that back. It’s not Blues Clues, rather it’s the Mickey Mouse Club, then The Breakfast Club, which can be rather Mickey Mouse at times.
Can someone help me understand how this is legal? To me it goes way beyond ethics into legality. What attorneys can comment on this?