2021-22 Political Mailers in Irvine – Who Is Behind Them?
Irvine Watchdog will be keeping track of every mailer that is circulated in our city as we head into the November 8, 2022 election. Irvine residents have reported receiving the following mailers. If you receive a political mailer, please take a picture of it front and back and send it to the Irvine Watchdog for investigation and reporting. Let’s help clean up our city from dirty politics together!
August 8, 2021 – Anonymous Mailer
October 9, 2021 – Anonymous Mailer
October 6, 2021 – Anonymous Mailer
October 27, 2021 – Anonymous Mailer
November 4, 2021 – Anonymous Mailer
November 18, 2021 – Anonymous Mailer
November 19, 2021 – Anonymous Mailer
Irvine residents have received political mailers without any disclosure of who sent it, who paid for it, and how much it cost — a clear violation of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Political Reform Act.
Disclosures are required by the FPPC to “promote transparency in government and to foster public trust in the political system.” Organizations producing slate mailers must identify themselves on the mailers with a notice such as this:
Who is Behind the Mailers?
The individuals or organizations behind these mailers failed to disclose their identities. Hence, as the investigations continue, we can only speculate on who might most likely finance mailers like these.
Here are few questions to consider:
- A targeted slate mailer for our city of 307k+ residents can cost well over $30,000. Who has the most to gain financially from influencing our elections?
- What special interests have a history of dirty money and these kinds of shady campaign tactics in Irvine elections?
These Mailers Lack Transparency and May Violate the Law
The most recent mailer is another possible violation of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Political Reform Act. The FPPC requires disclosures on mailers like this one to “promote transparency in government and to foster public trust in the political system.”
The Transparency organization Open Secrets writes, “Citizens who are barraged with political messages paid for with money from undisclosed sources may not be able to consider the credibility and possible motives of the wealthy corporate or individual funders behind those messages.”
Help Promote Disclosure
If you receive an anonymous political mailer, please take a picture of it front and back and send it to the Irvine Watchdog for investigation and reporting.
