Beth White Continues to Mislead Kent County Voters

Grand Rapids – Kent County Republican Party Chairman Joel Freeman sent a letter today to the Michigan Attorney General’s office requesting their office investigate Democrat County Treasurer candidate Beth White for violating Michigan Election Law. Throughout her campaign, Ms. White has repeatedly violated the implied incumbency provisions of Michigan Election Law § 944. Section 944 provides:

“Any person who advertises or uses in any campaign material, including radio, television, newspapers, circulars, cards, or stationary, the words incumbent, re-elect, re-election, or otherwise indicates, represents, or gives the impression that a candidate for public office is the incumbent, when in fact the candidate is not the incumbent, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as provided in section 934.”

Ms. White has distributed yard signs, purchased by her campaign, which state, “Beth White, 2020 Kent County Treasurer.” The signs lack an intervening “for” and serve to mislead voters about her status as a non-incumbent. She has also prominently placed photographs of said yard signs on her website and social media.

“Beth White has purchased yard signs and placed them throughout the county claiming to be the incumbent Kent County Treasurer, when in fact, she is not” said Freeman. “It is disappointing to see someone with a legal background so blatantly violate Michigan Election Law. If Ms. White cannot follow the simplest facets of Michigan Election Law, she cannot be trusted to properly oversee the Kent County Treasurer’s office.”

You can find the letter HERE.

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