03-26-2009, 04:57 PM
Pete got in trouble with the State Board of Elections last year for trying to circumvent campaign disclosure during the Link petition controversy.
This is from the April 21, 2008 minutes:
The Chairman asked if there was other business. Member Brady asked Mr. Borgsmiller about the challenge to the Terry Link campaign wherein circulators were paid to circulate Sen. Linkâs nominating petitions. He replied that one gentleman, Pete Couvall, admitted that he was paid $2500 from Sen. Linkâs committee and he in turn paid people to circulate Sen. Linkâs petitions, but that it has been listed and reported. Mr. Borgsmiller stated that the $2,500 was reported by Sen. Linkâs committee and as far as the SBE campaign disclosure staff was concerned the matter is closed. Member Brady asked whether Mr. Couvallâs use of personal funds to pay circulators to do the work on behalf of Sen. Linkâs committee was an in-kind contribution, albeit a second or third generation contribution. He questioned why it was not further followed up. Mr. Borgsmiller didnât think that the campaign disclosure division has ever considered such expenditures as being an in-kind contribution. Member Brady asked if his position would change if Mr. Couvall spent $5,000 on circulators and only received $2,500 from Sen. Linkâs committee. Member
State Board of Elections Minutes
April 21, 2008
Page #6
Brady felt it was an elaborate way to avoid disclosure. Vice Chairman Schneider suggested that Mr. Borgsmiller prepare a report for the next meeting and directed staff to submit it for the next board meeting.
From the May 19, 2008 minutes:
The General Counsel presented Friends of Terry Link/Peter Couvall explaining that at the last meeting the Board had asked staff to provide a summary of correspondence that existed between State Board of Elections staff and the Terry Link Committee with regard to the involvement of Peter
Minutes, May 19, 2008 Page 5
Couvall. Mr. Sandvoss indicated based on the information received, it was concluded that the issues raised by staff had been answered and no further reporting was necessary. Mr. Peter Couvall had received an amount of $2,500 as a salary. Member Brady was concerned if Mr. Couvall had made an in-kind contribution to the committee and if so does he have an obligation to make that report to the Committee for full disclosure. Discussion ensued and the General Counsel noted that the payment to Mr. Couvall was to perform services and if he paid others out of his salary to help him perform the job they would be his subcontractors. Member McGuffage moved to accept the recommendation of the hearing officer and General Counsel and end the matter. After further discussion Member Brady moved to hold this issue to the June meeting to determine if there is a motion appropriate to the situation. Member McGuffage withdrew his motion. Member Keith seconded Member Bradyâs motion which passed by roll call vote of 7-1 with Member Porter voting in the negative.
And this is from the June 9, 2008 minutes:
Member Brady moved that the Board recognize that an in-kind contribution was made from Mr. Peter Couvall to the
Friends of Terry Link Committee and that, within 30 days, the committee for Mr. Link amend its report to reflect the
in-kind contribution. The general counselâs position was contrary to the motion. Discussion ensued among the
board. Vice Chairman Schneider seconded the motion which failed by 4-4 vote with Members Keith, McGuffage,
Rednour and Chairman Porter voting against the motion.
This is from the April 21, 2008 minutes:
The Chairman asked if there was other business. Member Brady asked Mr. Borgsmiller about the challenge to the Terry Link campaign wherein circulators were paid to circulate Sen. Linkâs nominating petitions. He replied that one gentleman, Pete Couvall, admitted that he was paid $2500 from Sen. Linkâs committee and he in turn paid people to circulate Sen. Linkâs petitions, but that it has been listed and reported. Mr. Borgsmiller stated that the $2,500 was reported by Sen. Linkâs committee and as far as the SBE campaign disclosure staff was concerned the matter is closed. Member Brady asked whether Mr. Couvallâs use of personal funds to pay circulators to do the work on behalf of Sen. Linkâs committee was an in-kind contribution, albeit a second or third generation contribution. He questioned why it was not further followed up. Mr. Borgsmiller didnât think that the campaign disclosure division has ever considered such expenditures as being an in-kind contribution. Member Brady asked if his position would change if Mr. Couvall spent $5,000 on circulators and only received $2,500 from Sen. Linkâs committee. Member
State Board of Elections Minutes
April 21, 2008
Page #6
Brady felt it was an elaborate way to avoid disclosure. Vice Chairman Schneider suggested that Mr. Borgsmiller prepare a report for the next meeting and directed staff to submit it for the next board meeting.
From the May 19, 2008 minutes:
The General Counsel presented Friends of Terry Link/Peter Couvall explaining that at the last meeting the Board had asked staff to provide a summary of correspondence that existed between State Board of Elections staff and the Terry Link Committee with regard to the involvement of Peter
Minutes, May 19, 2008 Page 5
Couvall. Mr. Sandvoss indicated based on the information received, it was concluded that the issues raised by staff had been answered and no further reporting was necessary. Mr. Peter Couvall had received an amount of $2,500 as a salary. Member Brady was concerned if Mr. Couvall had made an in-kind contribution to the committee and if so does he have an obligation to make that report to the Committee for full disclosure. Discussion ensued and the General Counsel noted that the payment to Mr. Couvall was to perform services and if he paid others out of his salary to help him perform the job they would be his subcontractors. Member McGuffage moved to accept the recommendation of the hearing officer and General Counsel and end the matter. After further discussion Member Brady moved to hold this issue to the June meeting to determine if there is a motion appropriate to the situation. Member McGuffage withdrew his motion. Member Keith seconded Member Bradyâs motion which passed by roll call vote of 7-1 with Member Porter voting in the negative.
And this is from the June 9, 2008 minutes:
Member Brady moved that the Board recognize that an in-kind contribution was made from Mr. Peter Couvall to the
Friends of Terry Link Committee and that, within 30 days, the committee for Mr. Link amend its report to reflect the
in-kind contribution. The general counselâs position was contrary to the motion. Discussion ensued among the
board. Vice Chairman Schneider seconded the motion which failed by 4-4 vote with Members Keith, McGuffage,
Rednour and Chairman Porter voting against the motion.