Marr changing TV ad that lacked disclosure

The state Public Disclosure Commission is warning state Sen. Chris Marr that he violated campaign law by failing to mention his Democratic Party affiliation in a TV ad.

Phil Stutzman, the PDC’s director of compliance, said the commission won’t open a formal investigation because Marr’s campaign agreed to change the advertisement.

The PDC received a complaint about the ad from Curtis Fackler, the Spokane County Republican Party vice chairman, on Sept. 23.

“It just seems that Marr is for some reason embarrassed to be running as a Democrat,” said Marr’s opponent, Republican Michael Baumgartner. “The law says you should put your party affiliation on there.”

Marr said the lack of a party affiliation in the ad was “an oversight.” He said all his other signs and ads have had the correct party label.

“If Baumgartner wants to make a big issue of it, I suppose they can,” Marr said. “I would say that there are more substantive things to talk about.”

Jonathan Brunt