The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board passed Wednesday on investigating a Republican complaint against Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.
The Republican Party had accused Rybak of using his mayoral campaign spending last spring to fuel his gubernatorial campaign. But the state campaign finance watchdog said the complaint included "contentions rather than statements of fact," according to a letter sent to Rybak's attorney.
Further, the board concluded, "the factual allegations of the complaint are insufficient to state a violation" of state campaign finance law, the letter released by Rybak's campaign said.
At issue was the "RT for Mayor" committee's $13,000 purchase of access to the DFL Party's statewide voter database. The Republican Party alleged that the purchase, made by Rybak's mayoral campaign, benefited his gubernatorial run.
Rybak campaign manager Tina Smith said the mayoral campaign used the database for legitimate reasons, including fundraising. Rybak's gubernatorial campaign is leasing access to the database again, separately, for use in his statewide campaign.
The board told Rybak's attorney that the Republican Party could resubmit a complaint if it "obtains additional factual information."
Rachel E. Stassen-Berger • 651-292-0164
