The Alaska Public Offices Commission last week rejected a staff recommendation to dismiss the bulk of allegations against the Bill Thomas campaign for a series of “thank-you” ads published last summer in the Chilkat Valley News.
The commission also ordered a new investigation report of the matter.
The ads were organized by Jim Studley, a Thomas campaign official, and paid for by various local businesses.
Commission staff recommended last month that only two of 17 ads – ones containing the word “vote” – amounted to political speech regulated by APOC. The staff recommended Thomas be fined $50 and publish a “remedial” ad essentially correcting the two ads in question.
“The commission does not agree that the evidence conclusively supports a dismissal of the remaining allegations without further investigation and presentation of evidence,” said an APOC order dated Dec. 1.
Commissioners asked staff, in reconsidering the matter, to answer 11 questions including whether the series of ads should be considered “one cumulative communications effort” aimed at influencing Thomas’ election.
Other considerations to be reviewed by staff are the significance of Studley’s involvement in the ads, the volume and timing of the ads, their language and format, and the relevance of Studley’s intent on placing the ads.
The commission said it would await a new investigation before considering or taking action concerning the two ads that contained the word “vote.”