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Resident warns district referendum outreach may lack campaign-finance disclosures
Summary
A resident and retired county elections director told the Susquehanna Township School District board that yard signs and outreach related to a November referendum appear to lack required campaign-committee registration and disclosure.
Jerry Feeser, who identified himself as a resident of Deerpath Road and a retired director of the Dauphin County Elections Bureau, told the board that he had observed yard signs both supporting and opposing an upcoming school referendum that do not carry disclaimers and that neither side had filed a political committee registration statement with election officials.
“I did notice that the yard signs are absent of a disclaimer,” Feeser said. “I also contacted both the Dauphin County Elections Bureau and the Department of State and found that neither those who are in support or opposed have filed a political committee registration statement naming a chair, a treasurer, and how to contact them.”
Feeser said campaign-finance reporting deadlines remain ahead of the election but that the public has a right to know who is paying for campaign material. He also reminded the board that “persuasive signs advocating for or against a particular issue such as this referendum, are not permissible to be paid for with public funds.” Feeser offered to provide paperwork to the board president and to Mr. Rawls and said he would be willing to meet with district officials to clarify compliance requirements.
The district did not provide an immediate public response to Feeser’s assertions during the meeting. Board members said they would follow up through administrative staff as appropriate. The transcript shows the district is holding open houses and outreach related to the referendum; Feeser said he plans to attend an open house to learn more.
