Newhouse campaign files FEC complaint over Didier ad

YAKIMA - Fourth District Congressional District candidate Dan Newhouse filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission over a television ad candidate Clint Didier released on Thursday.

Newhouse and Didier, both running as Republicans, are embroiled in a race for retiring Rep. Doc Hastings' Fourth District seat, which will be decided by voters on Nov. 4.

The Newhouse campaign contends that in Didier's new TV spot, which aired on Thursday, there is no written statement identifying Didier, or providing a candidate authorization statement, according to Newhouse's campaign manager Jim Keough.

According to paperwork the Newhouse campaign filed with the FEC, the Bipartisan Reform Act of 2002 amended the requirements for disclaimers on radio and TV ads.

Candidates must include a spoken statement in the ad, noting that they endorse the advertisement. The candidate endorsement is the obligatory "I approve this message," statement.

"It is clear that the advertisement fails to conform to these basic legal requirements. It does not have a written statement identifying Mr. Didier and informing the public that he has approved the message, and it does not contain a spoken statement saying that he has approved the message," reads paperwork filed to the FEC by Newhouse's campaign manager Tim Kovis.

The FEC requires the ad be pulled until it meets FEC regulations.

When the ad meets FEC standards it can then be used again.

"This is a major mistake. His high paid consultants don't know the FEC regulations? Campaign 101. They are going to have to spend money re-editing and re-shipping the ad. They act like wasteful bureaucrats burning up money on mistakes instead of providing services," Keough said.

The Didier campaign could not be reached for comment.