Correction: I initially wrote that the Derby campaign filed the FEC complaint while it actually was an independent voter. Sorry for the oversight.
A voter has filed an FEC complaint against Dean Heller:
Congressional Candidate Jill Derby today called for Dean Heller to pay off hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign debt dating back to his first congressional race in 2006. According to a private complaint filed with the FEC and as reported by the Associated Press, Heller's campaign currently owes more than $330,000 in debt to corporate interests in potential violation of federal regulations.
"At a time of economic crisis, we need a true fiscal conservative to end the Bush cycle of borrow-and-spend budgeting," said Derby. "Dean Heller should practice the fiscal responsibility he preaches and pay off his debt."
"While average Nevadans are struggling to make mortgage and credit card payments, Dean Heller is receiving deals on highly questionable loans from top Republican strategists," said Derby Spokeswoman Kristen Cullen. "Not only is Heller's debt fiscally irresponsible, but it also raises serious ethical and legal questions that need to be answered. Heller should pay off this debt and voluntarily submit his campaign to an audit by the Federal Election Commission."
The FEC complaint alleges that Dean Heller's campaign committee circumvented the FEC’s prohibition on corporate contributions to federal campaigns by maintaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to corporate vendors without interest or regular payments. The corporation known as November, Inc., and its subsidiaries, are owned by Michael and Lindsay Slanker, Political Director and Finance Director, respectively, at the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Heller's campaign committee has more than enough in his campaign account to pay off this debt. At times he has had more than triple the amount of cash on hand than is owed.
I just looked through Heller's FEC filings and the debt owed to November Inc. stands at $116,756.60 in his October 2008 quarterly filing and has been at this exact amount since his April 2007 quarterly filing. So for exactly 18 months Heller has neither paid any of his debt to November Inc. nor has the amount owed changed even one penny because of any interest rates.
My Silver State readers of course know the lenders from our Meet the Slankers diary in which I found a little gem which I almost forgot about:
But the Slankers remain almost defiantly optimistic.
For example, even though Republicans haven't recruited a challenger to oppose Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., Mike Slanker is guaranteeing she will not be re-elected.
The latest polling has Landrieu between 20 points (Dem internal) and 5 points (Rep internal) ahead of her Republican opponent.
Heller's "debt" leaves Derby at a financial disadvantage, of course. So, please consider pitching in a couple of bucks of your non-corporate money if you can.
Cross posted from My Silver State.