A confirmation letter to Harry Wiggins acknowledging the creation of the “Republicans for Stanley Bender” political action committee was sent in error.
The Virginia State Board of Elections on Friday is expected to hear a recap of the Nov. 6 General Elections, and in it a briefing on the Republicans for Stanley Bender PAC that, according to state documents, was created by former Prince William County Democratic Chairman Harry Wiggins just prior to election day.
An automatic authorization letter from the State Department of Elections confirming the PAC’s creation was sent to Wiggins but it shouldn’t have been, due to the fact the candidate for Independent Prince William County School Board Chairman At-large Stanley Bender never gave his permission, according to a letter from Virginia State Board of Elections Policy Analyst Arielle Schneider.
An email from Bender included in working papers for the Dec. 21 meeting of the State Board of Elections states he never gave permission for the creation of the PAC. Bender said the same thing when interviewed by Potomac Local shortly after the election.
State law requires the organizers of PACs to provide 21 days prior notice to the candidate before forming the committee.
“Had he provided notice to Mr. Bender 21 days prior to filing the PAC, he would have been unable to carry out his surprise yard sign campaign on Election Day…” states Prince William County Republican Committee Chairman Bill Card in a letter to the State Department of Elections.
Bender lost the election to Dr. Babur Lateef, who was endorsed by Democrats. And so did Alyson Satterwhite, the Republican-endorsed candidate. Prince William County GOP leaders assert the signs were created to confuse Republican voters into thinking Bender was the GOP-endorsed candidate.
Democrats say that’s unlikely as Bender won 14% of the total vote and 10% of the absentee vote, a better than average showing for a third-party candidate on a School Board race.
Wiggins has been asked to appear at the hearing. Woodbridge Attorney and former Virginia State Delegate Paul Nichols will represent him, according to the Board’s working papers.
The Board of Elections will take up the matter at 2 p.m. Friday in Senate Room 3 at the Virginia State Capitol.
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