UCM student accuses House hopeful of ethics violation

A University of Central Missouri junior majoring in political science filed an ethics complaint this week against Saline County state Sen. Bill Stouffer, alleging Stouffer used resources from his state office in his campaign for U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton’s seat.

Chris Brockway, of Warrensburg, filed complaints with the Missouri Ethics Commission and the Federal Elections Commission on Monday. Although the complaint documents are not open records under the Missouri Sunshine Law, Brockway mailed copies of the records to Missourinet, a statewide news network, when he sent the complaints to the MEC and FEC.

In the complaint, Brockway alleged Stouffer discussed federal issues and attacked Skelton in the Stouffer Report, the senator’s taxpayer-subsidized legislative report, which also was sent to residents outside of the 21st Senate District.

“He continues to send this report to numerous high-ranking Republicans in the Fourth Congressional District,” Brockway said in the complaint. “Taxpayer dollars are clearly being used to help his federal campaign and is a violation of FEC and MEC rules and regulations.”

Brockway contended members of Stouffer’s Senate staff helped coordinate his federal campaign while working as state employees. He also alleged Stouffer used state campaign funds to support his U.S. House bid.

“This is a major violation of federal campaign laws. The most serious charge is that taxpayer-paid staffers are not working for the State of Missouri, but are working for Stouffer for Congress,” Brockway wrote.

Stouffer’s congressional campaign spokesman, Christian G. Morgan, released a statement in which he decried the accusations of misconduct on behalf of the Stouffer for Congress campaign. In his response, Morgan described the complaint as a “political smear.”

“The Stouffer for Congress campaign and the Friends of Bill Stouffer campaign have properly complied with all federal and state laws,” Morgan said. “Trumped-up accusations from Democrat operatives are meant to distract folks from talking about Ike’s bad votes on cap and trade, deficit spending with Wall Street bailouts, so-called stimulus plans and his 95 percent voting record in support for Nancy Pelosi’s agenda.”

Brockway said while he does support Skelton in the campaign, he was motivated to check into the potential ethics violation after a conversation with a friend brought the possible conflicts to his attention. Brockway said he spent nearly a dozen hours researching MEC and FEC rules and regulations before filing the complaint.

“I like to think no matter who the candidate was I would have pursued it,” Brockway said.

Skelton’s office has said the congressman will not comment on potential challengers until after primary elections.

The results of the MEC and FEC investigations will not become public records unless violations are discovered, according to Jean Maneke, an attorney representing the Missouri Press Association.