The Alaska Democratic Party has filed a complaint with state regulators against Anchorage Republican Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, arguing she's breaking campaign finance laws by raising money from lobbyists for a political action committee she controls.
Lobbyists are barred from donating to legislative candidates, except for lobbyists who live in the candidate's district.
But LeDoux, an attorney, had a new idea: soliciting lobbyists' contributions for a separate PAC she chairs. Officials at the Alaska Public Offices Commission, the agency that enforces campaign finance law, said the activity was allowed.
But Democrats say LeDoux and APOC officials misinterpreted the law — in particular, a section that says a "candidate" can be defined as a group that spends or accepts money with a candidate's authorization or consent, or under the candidate's control.
An APOC hearing on the complaint is set for Thursday morning.
LeDoux, in a brief phone interview, said she plans to attend. Asked about the Democrats' complaint, she responded: "I think they're wrong legally.
"I did check this out with APOC, so we'll see what happens," she said.