State campaign panel
continues Gabbard probe

The BOE member is accused
of omitting campaign expenses

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Star-Bulletin staff

The state Campaign Spending Commission has rejected a recommendation by its executive director to drop its investigation of whether school board member Carol Gabbard violated laws requiring her to report that she used her home and business post office box, e-mail address and fax machine for campaign purposes.

Instead, the commission voted 3-2 yesterday to have Executive Director Robert Watada and his staff continue its investigation.

The complaint was filed by private citizen Nancy Gillespie. Yesterday, Gillespie and others urged the commission to also look at the expenses of the Alliance for Traditional Marriage and Values.

That organization is headed by Carol Gabbard's husband, Mike. The group's treasurer was also treasurer of the Carol Gabbard campaign. Opponents said there was too much overlap between the organization and Gabbard's campaign.

Tracy Lagondino, a spokes-woman for Gillespie, said she was pleased by the decision.

Carol Gabbard said she was disappointed.

"I'm confident we did everything aboveboard," she said, calling the charges "just a continuation of the harassment I've experienced" by those opposed to her anti-homosexual views.

Watada said he recommended dismissing the case because he felt any potential violations were "nothing that would rise to the level of a major violation."