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LNG developer acknowledges election spending
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 | No comments posted.
ASTORIA (AP) — The company planning a liquefied natural gas terminal along the Columbia River has reported paying for a poll and a mailing for a referendum on gas pipelines in Clatsop County but says it did nothing wrong.
Opponents of the Bradwood Landing proposal earlier accused the developers of violating elections laws by sponsoring a “push poll,” without disclosing the expenditure.
The Daily Astorian reports that documents filed with the Oregon secretary of state’s office show $12,500 spent on a survey and more than $17,000 on a mailing.
A push poll is generally defined as a set of questions designed to influence the voter, rather than gather information as a real poll would.
The referendum scheduled Sept. 16 asks voters whether they want to allow natural gas pipelines, sewer lines and cable TV lines on land reserved for open space and recreation. The referendum stems from the Clatsop County Commission’s decision to approve Bradwood’s natural gas pipeline route extending west from the project site 20 miles east of Astoria on the Columbia River.
Jennifer Hertel, compliance specialist in the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, sent a letter to Bradwood Landing’s community liaison Pete Hackett last week noting her office received the complaint from opponents of the project on Aug. 20, the same day the company filed its statement of independent expenditures.
The company filed the document a few days after refusing to say whether it was paying for the poll.
Opponents of the project argue the company should be subject to fines for failing to report the expenses before the state’s deadline. Clatsop County residents report receiving phone calls on the referendum starting Aug. 1, but in Bradwood Landing’s report the expense was dated Aug. 13.
“It’s good we have forced Bradwood to admit they were behind these polls, but it doesn’t change the fact that they have violated campaign finance laws and need to be held accountable,” said Columbia Riverkeeper Executive Director Brent Foster.
The company denies allegations that it engaged in push polling and argues it has accurately reported its campaign expenditures.
Joe Desmond, vice president of external relations for NorthernStar Natural Gas, said he is confident the state will determine the company has followed the rules. He said opponents are trying to mislead voters in a postcard that called Bradwood’s natural gas pipeline an LNG pipeline and implied it will threaten public parks when it is proposed on private property.
Opponents of the Bradwood Landing proposal earlier accused the developers of violating elections laws by sponsoring a “push poll,” without disclosing the expenditure.
The Daily Astorian reports that documents filed with the Oregon secretary of state’s office show $12,500 spent on a survey and more than $17,000 on a mailing.
A push poll is generally defined as a set of questions designed to influence the voter, rather than gather information as a real poll would.
The referendum scheduled Sept. 16 asks voters whether they want to allow natural gas pipelines, sewer lines and cable TV lines on land reserved for open space and recreation. The referendum stems from the Clatsop County Commission’s decision to approve Bradwood’s natural gas pipeline route extending west from the project site 20 miles east of Astoria on the Columbia River.
Jennifer Hertel, compliance specialist in the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, sent a letter to Bradwood Landing’s community liaison Pete Hackett last week noting her office received the complaint from opponents of the project on Aug. 20, the same day the company filed its statement of independent expenditures.
The company filed the document a few days after refusing to say whether it was paying for the poll.
Opponents of the project argue the company should be subject to fines for failing to report the expenses before the state’s deadline. Clatsop County residents report receiving phone calls on the referendum starting Aug. 1, but in Bradwood Landing’s report the expense was dated Aug. 13.
“It’s good we have forced Bradwood to admit they were behind these polls, but it doesn’t change the fact that they have violated campaign finance laws and need to be held accountable,” said Columbia Riverkeeper Executive Director Brent Foster.
The company denies allegations that it engaged in push polling and argues it has accurately reported its campaign expenditures.
Joe Desmond, vice president of external relations for NorthernStar Natural Gas, said he is confident the state will determine the company has followed the rules. He said opponents are trying to mislead voters in a postcard that called Bradwood’s natural gas pipeline an LNG pipeline and implied it will threaten public parks when it is proposed on private property.
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