State GOP taking new tack in Horner flap
The state Republican party is taking a new approach to its allegation that Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner received an illegal campaign contribution.
GOP officials filed a complaint today with the Office of Administrative Hearings
claiming Horner colluded with pollster Bill Morris and his Minneapolis-based research company Decision Resources Ltd. The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board declined to investigate the same complaint last week because the issue did not fall under its jurisdiction.
Michael Brodkorb, deputy chairman of the state GOP, continues to allege that Horner received poll information from his former business associate well before the information had been made public.
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"It's pretty clear to us, based on the evidence, that the campaign solicited and received a corporate contribution, and also that the campaign failed to be reimbursed or pay for any portion of the poll they received."
If an administrative law judge decides the GOP complaint has merit, the matter could be the subject of a hearing within a few days.
Horner's campaign manager, Stephen Imholte, said he was waiting to comment until after he had a chance to discuss the complaint with the campaign's attorney.
UPDATE
Horner campaign spokeswoman Marti Jones released this statement:
Today's filing by the state Republican Party is bogus and a waste of tax payer's dollars. This claim is yet again another desperate, false tactic to draw attention away from the issues because their candidate will not address the needs of Minnesota. The Horner campaign looks forward to addressing substantive issues with the Republican Party.