Nashua has a municipal election coming up, and the Nashua Teachers Union PAC is handing out election materials. On government property. In violation of State law.
659:44-a Electioneering by Public Employees. –
I. No public employee, as defined in RSA 273-A:1, IX, shall electioneer while in the performance of his or her official duties.
II. No public employee shall use government property or equipment, including, but not limited to, telephones, facsimile machines, vehicles, and computers, for electioneering.
III. For the purposes of this section, “electioneer” means to act in any way specifically designed to influence the vote of a voter on any question or office.
IV. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.Source. 2003, 172:2, eff. June 18, 2003. 2016, 176:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2017.
The Nashua Teachers Union (NTU) is handing out political campaign literature to teachers in city school buildings. my Sources also say that these individuals are telling them to vote for union-endorsed candidates and saying that “a vote for anyone else would be very scary.”
A public employee electioneering on public property to round up votes for their candidates is illegal.
Do you know what else is illegal, failing to file (per Nashua city ordinance) campaign finance reports.
Another source tells me that the NTU PAC has not filed these required reports even though they have donated money and resources to candidates in city elections.
The fine for failure to submit those financial reports is $100 per day; each day is a separate offense.
[NRO 1975, T. 2, § 604; 10-18-1977 by Ord. No. O-77-199; 12-26-2007 by Ord. No. O-07-128]A. It shall be unlawful for any candidate, person, or political committee to try to circumvent the filing of an item of value larger than $10 by any means. Any candidate, person, or political committee having been found guilty of such a circumvention shall be guilty of failing to comply.
B. Any candidate, person, or political committee failing to comply with the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a violation, and fined not more than $100 for each day that lack of compliance exists. Each day that lack of compliance exists shall constitute a separate offense.
If they’ve not been filing for years, that could add up to a large sum. Nashua is always looking for money for the city budget. The NTU PAC may owe them a small fortune. Do the cities other unions have a similar special deal?
Maybe they should enforce the law and collect it? While they are at it, perhaps someone can enforce the law regarding electioneering on public property as well? Are you holding your breath? I’m not.
But maybe the citizens of Nashua can find the time to dig in and ask some questions. Demand answers. Get reports, and if they are missing, demand to know why the law is being ignored? And then, maybe sue somebody. Democrats do it all the time. Why should they have all the fun?
Image: Union Flyers being handed out on school property
