Press Release Says, State House Candidate Jason Cline files APOC Complaint against the Alaska Democratic Party

Anchorage, AK – Jason Cline filed a complaint to the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) regarding the Alaska Democratic Party’s attempts to covertly create web pages designed to attack elected Republican officials.

The complaint clearly shows that on December 1, 2009 the Alaska Democratic Party created a facebook page titled “Hold Dan Sullivan Accountable.” The page states that it is “Not affiliated with any political party.” Immediately after creating the site a message was sent out on an official
party communication platform, by a self identified party intern, announcing the page and asking party members to join the website. Party leadership was aware of the activities and clearly supported them as demonstrated by Party Chairwoman Patti Higgin’s post on the site, just hours after the site was created, attacking Mayor Sullivan.

These activities clearly violate APOC regulations requiring political parties to openly identify themselves as being behind such sites with a “Paid for by” disclosure box.

“Scrutinizing public officials is an important aspect of free speech,’ Cline said. “Social networking is continuing to show promise in creating a dynamic communications channel in which people can communicate ideas and thoughts. It should be done so, however, through the appropriate means and follow the established guidelines for official communications. I’m not concerned with the cost of the message, but the value of it considering the upcoming municipal elections.”

“These guerilla attack tactics used by the Alaska Democrats are nothing new, but it does not make it right.” Cline stated. “With the increasing role social networking is playing in political communications, it is important is watched very closely. It is unfortunate that the Alaska Democrats felt the need to attack Mayor Sullivan in such a covert way.”