Bruning Press Conference Violated State Law
Oct 26, 11:02 AM CST
Attorney General Jon Bruning took a break from campaigning for higher office this week and traveled to Gering to announce his endorsement of Republican Scotts Bluff County Attorney candidate Derek Weimer. According to radio station KNEB, Bruning made the endorsement in front of the Scotts Bluff County Courthouse.
The courthouse sits next to the county administration building, which serves as a polling place and is currently the location Scotts Bluff County residents go to vote early in person.
Such electioneering is strictly prohibited under Nebraska election law:
No person shall do any electioneering, circulate petitions, or perform any action that involves solicitation within any polling place or any building designated for voters to cast ballots by the election commissioner or county clerk pursuant to the Election Act while the polling place or building is set up for voters to cast ballots or within two hundred feet of any such polling place or building. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class V misdemeanor. [Nebraska Statute 32-1524]
Just a few weeks ago, Congressional candidate Scott Kleeb approached Scotts Bluff County leaders to coordinate an event in front of the courthouse. At that time, his staff was informed that he couldn’t hold the event because the building was being utilized as a polling place and it would be a violation of state election laws.
According to radio station KNEB, County Clerk Vera Dulaney says using the courthouse as a location for an endorsement is questionable at best. Dulaney confirms Kleeb approached her about coordinating an event either in front of the administration building or the courthouse. Dulaney says she advised Kleeb he could not do it in front of the administration building and it was “marginal” whether he could do it in front of the courthouse.
The people of Nebraska have entrusted Jon Bruning with interpreting and upholding the laws of this state as Attorney General. It’s hard imagine that Bruning and Weimer – who is seeking to be the county’s top law enforcer – didn’t know the law. Either they didn’t know, or they intentionally violated the law in this case.
The current county attorney is considering pressing charges in this case.
– by | Send this to a friend
“while the polling place or building is set up for voters to cast ballots”
I am not saying one way or another, but this seems like a reach in the first place. I would make sure every part of the statutory violation has been met before making blind allegations. We are better than that.
— Craig Oct 26, 01:38 PM CST #
As it states in my post, the building is the county’s location to vote early. Thus, it certainly is set up to cast ballots and has been an active polling place since the beginning of October.
And, let’s not forget that the county clerk told the Kleeb campaign that they couldn’t or shouldn’t hold a political event in the same area.
We are strong in our position that a law was violated here, or we wouldn’t have brought up the question. However, we do not have a legal jurisdiction over Gering. And thus, we asked the authorities there to investigate it, which they are in the process of doing.
— Eric Oct 26, 02:48 PM CST #
Scotts Bluff County Attorney Doug Warner says he will announce later this afternoon whether state election law was violated when Attorney General Jon Bruning endorsed Republican Derek Weimer for County Attorney Tuesday in front of the courthouse steps. A new law enacted by the legislature this year prohibits electioneering within 200 feet of a polling place. Early balloting has been conducted at the county administration building adjacent to the courthouse since October second.
Warner says the endorsement took place within 150 feet of the nearest corner of the administration building, which is where he believes the measurement should take place according to the intent of the law.
Warner also indicated his initial interpretation is that the endorsement qualifies as electioneering even though no placards, signs or buttons were displayed during the endorsement.
Warner says a violation of the law is a class five misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $100.
— Eric Oct 26, 02:52 PM CST #
Egad, if the fine is only $100, how many people will Ricketts have giving us the hard-sell at the polls?
— Tony Maloley Jr Oct 27, 12:45 AM CST #