Jacobs Decision- Outcome of a Complaint to the Commissioner of Political Practices

This post deals with a complaint by former MCPS Trustee Rosemary Harrison against Teresa Jacobs filed before the Commissioner of Political Practices in 2006. (The date of the decision lists December 15th, 2006.) 

According to the document msw recently found online it states, "Rosemary Harrison filed a complaint alleging that Teresa Jacobs and her campaign violated Montana campaign finance laws."

Another sentence in the "SUMMARY OF FACTS" section of the document reads, "Prior to the election Jacobs and her campaign created and distributed a campaign flyer that contained certain representations concerning Harrison. The flyer contained two sections with representations about which Harrison complains..."

Two areas of finance laws which the complaint addresses are Failed Leadership and Questionable Treatment of the Public. 

This complaint was thoroughly investigated as one can see by reading the document.  msw encourages citizens to open the link to the document and read for themselves the evidence which Teresa Jacobs submitted in defense of the material that was printed in the flyer.  It gives readers an insight into aspects of the 2004 school closures.

As the "Jacobs Decision" is a 10 page document, msw will print a small interesting section of the complaint.  It appears on page 3 and is listed as #9. 

 "Colleen Rogers was a MCPS Board trustee from 2001 to 2004. On several occasions between October, 2003 and February, 2004, Rogers emailed Elizabeth Kaleva with questions regarding proper notice and agenda preparation and distribution for MCPS Board meetings. In an email dated November 4, 2003, Kaleva responded to one of Rogers’ questions by stating: “. . . All meetings, whether they be regular, special,
committee or subcommittee, need to be noticed like a regular meeting and have an
agenda. They also need to have minutes.” Trustee Rogers forwarded copies of her questions and Kaleva’s response to Harrison and to other MCPS Board Trustees. Thereafter Rogers continued to email Kaleva with questions and concerns, but she did not cc MCPS Board Chairperson Harrison or other MCPS Board trustees on those subsequent emails."

What is most interesting  in the above paragragh to msw is that the attorney for the school district recommended, "All meetings, whether they be regular, special, committee or subcommittee, need to be noticed like a regular meeting and have an agenda." 

MCPS is not giving notice nor keeping minutes at this time for many of it's meetings; the regional director meetings, are an example!!

In conclusion, the last sentence in the document states, "Based on the preceding Summary of Facts and Statement of Findings there is insufficient evidence to conclude that Teresa Jacobs and her campaign violated Montana campaign finance and practices laws."

Jacobs decision