Rep. Larry Clark Files Complaint Against Special Interest Groups

Says Special Interest Groups Violated Finance Laws During 2010 Campaign –Representative Larry Clark (D-Louisville) has filed a complaint against three special interest groups who collectively spent over $300,000 against him during his House District 46 re-election campaign in 2010.  Named in the complaint filed today with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance (KREF) were the Better Schools Kentucky Political Action Committee (PAC), The Truth From American Workers 527, and the Jefferson County Teachers Association.

Rep. Clark’s complaint states that the groups violated KREF laws when they coordinated with Clark’s opponent Brian Simpson on a campaign television commercial.  While making independent expenditures, special interest groups are prohibited by Kentucky law (KRS 121.150(6)) from coordinating with political candidates.  In addition, the groups failed to report certain payments to people working polls on behalf of Brian Simpson on Election Day.  “Campaign finance violations are a crime against our democracy,” said Larry Clark.  “Kentucky’s election finance laws are in place to ensure transparency in government and that candidates are held accountable to the public. Compromising the integrity of elections violates the public trust and when special interest groups engage in politics, they must be prepared to obey the laws.”

During his 27 years in the House of Representatives, Larry Clark has been a strong advocate for education. During the 2011 legislative session, as the second highest-ranking member of the House of Representatives, Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark refused to accept the Senate’s proposal to shore up Medicaid by taking money from schools and teachers.  “The hope for Kentucky’s strong future is in education,” said Clark.  “Our investment in education is the most important thing we can do to improve Kentucky’s economy and create opportunities for good quality jobs.”

“I do not believe that the majority of teachers in Jefferson County want to see their hard-earned dollars being used for negative, smear campaigns that do not result in improvements for their schools,” said Clark.  “During my 17 campaigns for public office, I have always run clean campaigns and have taken a pledge vowing to respect the voters.  I have always kept that promise.”

During the 2010 election, the Kentucky Education Association Political Action Committee endorsed Larry Clark. In addition, Larry Clark was endorsed and strongly supported by the AFL-CIO, The Kentucky State Building & Construction Trades Council, The United Auto Workers Local 862 and 25 other unions and organizations.  Clark was also endorsed by the Courier-Journal.