SDGOP Chair points out Minnehaha County Treasurer candidate Patrick Starr not only making illegal robocalls but breaking campaign finance laws as well.
In an article this week at ArgusLeader.com titled “State GOP, Councilor Pat Starr spar over legality of robocalls,” South Dakota Republican Party Chairman Dan Lederman fired back at City Councilman Patrick Starr’s explanation for the illegal robocalls, and raised new allegations of potential campaign finance violations in addition to Starr ignoring federal laws against making unsolicited campaign robocalls across eastern South Dakota.
“In addition to the robocall being illegal to make under federal law, Starr admitted he paid for it, but the call did not disclose that fact, and being done in connection with his campaign a disclosure is required under state law,” Lederman said. “I have to ask how many other laws he’s willing to break to win an election?”
Lederman noted, “it appears that Starr didn’t know or care about federal laws against robocalling and doesn’t understand laws that clearly state if you spend money as part of a campaign you need to attach a disclaimer to your expenditure. I get the impression that he’s just too dumb to be trusted with the responsibility of the Minnehaha County Treasurer’s office.
“Patrick Starr was sending robocalls to cell phones in Sioux Falls, Watertown and Brookings, and he tries to deflect by claiming that he has to ‘rely on the Secretary of State’s list,’” Lederman said. “That’s actually not true. He can buy any list of phone numbers he wants, but he’s the one responsible to not harass & bother people on their cell phones. And it seems he managed to screw that up.”
“Failing to take responsibility for one’s actions is not a quality that voters appreciate,” Lederman said.
The TCPA is a federal statute which prohibits certain automated calls, texts and faxes sent by telemarketers and others. The law is implemented by regulations from the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). The TCPA allows victims of illegal calls to collect damages of a minimum of $500 per illegal call, text or fax. Stricter regulations went into effect in 2013 which radically increase consumer protection by requiring that telemarketers obtain a consumer’s consent in writing before making a call or sending a text.
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