NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A lawsuit was settled between the New Mexico State Ethics Committee and a local nonprofit. Now, new campaign reports show where exactly the group’s funds came from and where they’re going.
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Radio ads like this one, “We ask all Latino democrats and New Mexicans to join us in shaping a better New Mexico,” are funded by the New Mexico Project, or TNMP, a group that seeks to amplify Latino and moderate voices across New Mexico. That group is run by Jeff Apodaca who previously ran for governor as a Democrat.
They recently registered as a political committee and disclosed its funding after a months long legal battle.
“They are a 501 (c)(4) engaged in issue advocacy and they may have spent money on campaigns, but they didn’t exceed the independent expenditure limits such that they would have to register and disclose donors. So, we think the judge has the law wrong,” said A. Blair Dunn, Attorney for the New Mexico Project, said back in September.
In May, the New Mexico State Ethics Commission sued the group and its president for not disclosing finances while endorsing candidates on its website. They fought the notion that they were a political committee. But in the end, the judge ruled in favor of the state, and a settlement forced TNMP to file financial reports, register as a political committee, and pay thousands of dollars in fines.
The unveiled numbers show the group’s contributors totaling over $140,000 with the top funder being oil and gas company, Chevron, which gave $50,000.
The question then becomes where did that money go? Nearly $104,000 went to miscellaneous and campaign paraphernalia while the rest went to things like fundraising events, and office expenses.
According to the settlement, when the New Mexico project is in full compliance, the State’s Ethics Commission will dismiss all claims against the group meaning they won’t be charged for this again.
The State Ethics Commission said in a statement in part:
The State Ethics Commission remains committed to ensuring that New Mexico’s
campaign finance laws are followed. The Commission’s commitment to disclosure and to the rule of law is independent of and irrespective of the content and viewpoint of
political speech. This settlement with The New Mexico Project and Mr. Apodaca
reinforces the importance of transparency in New Mexico’s political process. The
Commission will continue to work to protect the public’s right to know who is
funding efforts to influence New Mexico’s elections.
Jeremy Farris, Executive Director, State Ethics Commission
