The Complaint Alleges that Official Government Resources were used to Promote and Staff a Campaign Rally for Laura Gillen, a Candidate for Congress, on Public Property
Washington, D.C. --- October 28, 2024 --- Today, the non-partisan ethics watchdog the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), filed a complaint requesting the Boards of Ethics for the Village of Hempstead (NY) and for the Town of Hempstead (NY) investigate the use of official government resources for a campaign rally. The campaign rally for a Democrat candidate for Congress, Laura Gillen, was reportedly promoted on government outlets, held on public property, staffed by government employees, and attended by government officials.
On October 17, 2024, Hempstead Village Mayor Waylyn Hobbs hosted what he and the Village’s promotional materials called a “Get Out the Vote Rally” at Kennedy Memorial Park, a property owned by the Village of Hempstead. It was reported that both the Village and County of Hempstead provided staff to manage the event.
Though the rally was marketed as apolitical by the Village, it was simultaneously marketed as a political event by others. Ultimately, what transpired proved it was in fact an impermissible political event that misused official government resources for partisan purposes. At the campaign rally, a New York State Democrats banner was displayed and supporters carried signage for Gillen. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was not only the featured speaker in support of candidate Laura Gillen, but his campaign speech asked if attendees were “ready to elect Democrats up and down the ballot” and said it was important for “Democrats to take back control of the House of Representatives.”
One foundational ethical principle applicable to public employees is that they cannot use government resources, including their own work time, for political purposes. Both the Town and Village of Hempstead ethics codes make clear that this event was an obvious and egregious violation. In addition, New York law also prohibits local, state, or federal candidates or elected officials from appearing in or paying for, in whole or part, advertisements with government funds.
“In this country, the government at any level is simply not allowed to be involved in partisan politics--this is embodied in numerous laws at the local, state, and federal level. It's forbidden for the obvious reasons of preventing abuse of taxpayer-funds and government endorsement of political candidates, but it also protects the work environment for government employees from being coercive and hostile. In this case, the event was clearly planned and carried out as a political one, and the evidence shows the government was involved from the beginning and throughout. The rally’s promotion, where it was held, staffing of the event, and attendance by government employees--all indicate the violations were many and unmistakable. That is why we are urging the boards of both the Town and Village to investigate and hold any government officials and employees involved in this misuse of resources accountable,” said Kendra Arnold, Executive Director of FACT.
A full copy of FACT’s complaint can be found HERE.
FACT is a nonprofit organization promoting accountability, ethics, and transparency in government and civic arenas. For more on FACT, visit: http://www.factdc.org
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