State Official Says Democrats Violated Campaign Laws

Montana's political practices commissioner says state Democrats broke campaign disclosure laws in 2008 by using anonymous phone calls against a Billings Republican legislative candidate.

Commissioner David Gallik concluded that in May Montana Democratic Party called voters anonymously to attack candidate Jack Sands for what it said was his representation of criminals. Sands, a defense attorney, lost his 2008 race to Democratic state Sen. Gary Branae of Billings.

Voters who received the call in October of that year weren't told who paid for the calls as required by law. Gallik says a penalty is warranted but hasn't been issued.

Sands says he's disappointed in the way the investigation was conducted and was never called by the case investigator until he was informed of the ruling.

Associated Press