Rep. Mary Peltola promoted a charitable fundraising fishing tournament immediately following the Kenai Classic, and has attached her name to it as a host.
For years, a fishing event for children has been known as the Lu Young Fund Fishing Event, named for the late wife of the late Congressman Don Young.
But Peltola, who replaced Young in Congress, is skirting and perhaps has broken campaign laws by using the fishing event to promote her campaign for reelection. She sent the invitation out from her campaign email account to official government accounts across D.C. and Alaska, that shows her as the honorary host. There is no disclaimer on the flyer.
Because of that, it means she is receiving a campaign benefit from a nonprofit organization, the Lu Young Children’s Fund.
The invitation landed in official accounts in Congress and in the accounts of staff and legislators in Alaska before August recess. That’s a violation on many levels, both state and federal.
If she is representing herself as an official in Congress at the event, Peltola can’t send out the invitation from her campaign account to official congressional emails. If she intended it to be a campaign function, she has forgotten to disclose that with the required verbiage.
“The Lu Young Children’s Fund Fishing Event will be held in Seward, Alaska August 25, 26, 27, 2023, and we hope that you will join our Honorary Guest Congresswoman Mary Sattler Peltola for some of the best fishing and most breathtaking scenery in the world,” the invitation says. “A registration form is enclosed, along with a short list of important details. Please register today to save your place, since the event is limited to 30 participants and the spots fill quickly.” The invitation was signed by a deputy campaign manager.
“Invitational participants will enjoy fishing for salmon and halibut in beautiful Resurrection Bay and the waters of Seward. Your participation fee includes 3 days of charter fishing, breakfast and lunch each day, a gourmet dinner, fishing license, fish processing and shipping. The fish you catch will be flash frozen and shipped to you anywhere within the United States.”
The note that accompanied the invitation came from Elisa Rios, deputy campaign manager.
The Lu Young fishing event has now been turned into a political event for Rep. Peltola in violation of Federal Election Commission laws.
