Salt Lake City, UT – Alliance for a Better Utah filed a complaint with the Utah Lt. Governor’s Office this afternoon alleging that a shadowy anti-transgender political action committee has failed to file required financial disclosure information. A copy of the complaint is attached.
As reported by The Salt Lake Tribune last month, the Preserving Utah Values PAC has sent out text message campaigns targeting Democratic candidates for their positions supporting transgender rights. Better Utah has also received copies of anti-transgender mailers that were sent out to those same districts.
Although the PAC presumably has received and spent more than $750 in funds for the targeted text messages, mailers, and an associated website, in its most recent report the PAC reported zero contributions and expenditures. Furthermore, the mailer sent to Utahns in those districts failed to disclose who paid for the mailer and whether it was coordinated with a candidate or candidate’s committee, as required by law.
Jeff Merchant, Executive Director for Alliance for a Better Utah, issued the following statement:
“Voters deserve to know who is funding political communications so that they can fully evaluate the context of the message. This shadowy out-of-state PAC has swooped in to influence our elections but, when it does so, it has to comply with Utah law. We hope the Lt. Governor’s Office takes this issue seriously and that adequate financial disclosures are soon filed so that Utahns can know who is funding these attack ads.”
When it registered with the state, Preserving Utah Values PAC listed its location as Hudson, Wisconsin and only has two Wisconsin residents listed as officers, Thomas and Timothy Datwyler. Thomas Datwyler is reported to be a “compliance consultant” with a track record of serious campaign finance violations, associations with some of the most notorious politicians in the United States, and complaints across the country.
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Alliance for a Better Utah is a nonprofit that holds politicians accountable and advocates for progressive policies that make Utah an even better place. The organization improves the lives of all Utahns through advocacy, transparency, and accountability in Utah politics, policy, and government. More information at www.betterutah.org.
