I just finished completing my WA State mail-in ballot for the August 19th election. And I knowingly and deliberately voted for a Republican.
I'll tell you why over the jump.
First of all, it was a nonpartisan office - Superior Court Judge. Party affiliation doesn't matter, technically speaking, nor is it disclosed on the ballot. Seems like a lot of people around here want to make it one -- saying they wouldn't vote for Candidate A because he is a Republican or Candidate B because he's a Democrat. [shrug]
Secondly, I won't vote for a Democrat just because he's a Democrat, if the other candidate is a better choice. Although, I can't honestly say that the other guy is "better" -- I just know that the Democrat is worse. He's a local attorney and I know enough about him to know that I would never, ever want to see him sitting on the bench.
This is a guy -- and no, I'm not going to mention any names here -- who has recruited some very stupid people who run a local nonprofit organization to campaign for him -- not as private citizens, but as representatives of the nonprofit. Oh, and he sits on the Board of that nonprofit. He's featuring senior staff of the nonprofit in his television ad, which is bad enough, but then yesterday I got robocalled by his campaign -- the recording having been made by another senior manager at this selfsame nonprofit organization, urging me on behalf of that organization to vote for him.
I'm writing this partly to vent. People like the two at this nonprofit are the kind who make it harder for the rest of us in nonprofits, because they flout the law, either out of stupidity or hubris or God knows what idiotic reason. The IRS code is very clear and very specific about this:
By law, organizations exempt from tax under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) may not "participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."
Source: IRS.gov
Needless to say, this particular candidate lost my vote; I gave it to the Republican. I don't give a flying hoo-ha if he's a Democrat; he's willing to break the law and put this nonprofit in jeopardy to get himself elected. Screw that noise.
I'm also writing it for the benefit of anyone affiliated by employment or Board membership out there, whether a candidate or a well-meaning supporter of a candidate: Nonprofits may not endorse or campaign for candidates for public office. To do so puts their 501(c)3 status in jeopardy. Anyone can campaign as an individual, but the instant you go out there in public and say "Hi, I'm Joe Q. Public from Such-And-Such Nonprofit Organization and I support John W. Dickhead for Chief Dogcatcher", you have fucked up, but good.
So do the rest of us who work in nonprofits and who try very hard to keep our legal and ethical noses clean a favor and just. don't. do. it. mmmkay? Thanks so much.