SARATOGA SPRINGS — The chair of the city’s Democratic Committee has filed a complaint with the state Board of Elections, asking it to investigate the anonymous content producers of the websites MovingSaratogaForward.com and RonKimTruth.com.
In a June 7 letter to the board’s Division of Election Law Enforcement, chair Otis Maxwell wrote that the sites are engaged in partisan advocacy that attacks Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim, who is running for re-election and is engaged in a primary battle. In a series of exhibits submitted with the letter, Maxwell cited blog items and social media posts — including at least one that was promoted by the city’s Republican committee, “suggesting partisan coordination.”
“Saratoga Springs voters deserve transparency, yet the people behind this shameful negative attack website are trying to hide their involvement,” Maxwell said in a statement, referring to RonKimTruth.com. “The law requires websites like this to include ‘paid for by’ disclaimers so voters can know the source and the motivation behind the sponsors.”
Maxwell said he would like the state to “hold the creators of the website accountable with the maximum allowable fine.”
“Moving Saratoga Forward is a right-wing partisan advocacy organization with a history of shady tactics,” Maxwell said in the statement. “They masquerade as ‘news,’ but given their consistent partisan engagement, they should be required to file with the state as a political organization. That they do not and that they were the first to promote (RonKimTruth.com), before anyone else had heard of it, leads to the likely conclusion that they are behind it.”
The city’s Republican Committee chair, Michael Brandi, said he is not coordinating with Moving Saratoga Forward and that the complaint “doesn’t pass the smell test.” He also pointed out a flyer promoting a Mouzon House fundraiser for Kim that did not include a paid-for disclaimer. He…
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