Houston City Councilman investigated for campaign signage violation

The heated Houston City Council campaigns and elections back in October continue to have repercussions, including an Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) investigation to a sitting councilman’s recent re-election campaign.

During the January Houston City Council meeting, Deputy Mayor Mike Adams revealed that his re-election campaign had been the subject of an APOC investigation regarding his campaign signage, and possible violation of Alaska Statute 15.13.090, Identification of Communication.

In it, the statute specifically says that “All communications shall be clearly identified by the words "paid for by" followed by the name and address of the person paying for the communication.”

During the meeting, Councilman Adams spoke to the council and audience about the procedures, which began with a complaint from a Houston resident, filed with APOC regarding the councilman’s signage, specifically that it lacked a “paid for” identifier as required by Alaska Statute.

In a statement read to the attendees by Councilman Adams, he said that while he was in remote Alaska and off-grid assisting a friend with an emergency, his wife had given a campaign sign to a neighbor, who proceeded to post a supportive candidate statement with a selfie.

The complainant, Wayne Oliver, captured that Facebook post, and along with Councilman Adams’s “re-elect” Facebook, noted to APOC the missing identifier. Councilman Adams told the audience that while his wife had been made aware of the deficiencies and swiftly corrected them, APOC carried out the investigation.

“I want to be clear that I accept full responsibility for these unintentional oversights and deficiencies on the part of my campaign,” he said during the meeting.

Councilman Adams then recounted that a hearing for this matter was held on December 7, while he was out of state visiting family for the holidays, though both he and the complainant participated telephonically.

“The APOC Commission upheld the APOC investigation and gave the recommendation of a fine of $217.50, which was subsequently paid. The APOC investigation determined that the fine should be reduced from the maximum possible civil penalties of $1450.00 because of the mitigation criteria-essentially that errors were immediately corrected as soon as known, and the respondent, me, cooperated fully with the investigation, to the extent that the APOC team waived fees.”

Upon his return to Alaska, Councilman Adams said that he ensured quick notification to Houston City Hall and the City Clerk of the administrative proceedings and the APOC administrative process, although the offices had already been notified.

While this process and the discussion may seem insignificant, Houston Municipal Code specifies that a council seat is to be vacated upon an APOC conviction of Alaska Statute 15.13and a 2/3 majority vote.

“The legal advisor of APOC advised that this matter’s administrative proceedings are handled administratively and are not considered by APOC to be a conviction, though there are criminal provisions within the election laws, but the commission does not have authority over those matters.”

The matter is considered to be administratively handled and no further actions were recommended.

Councilman Adams summarized the events, stating, “I never claimed to be a politician, but with these circumstances, and my desire to continue public service, I now find myself in that position... I apologize to the public and the council for the oversight and unintentional omissions by my campaign, and the time it took away from staff and their duties to deal with this matter.”

Houston Mayor Carter Cole informed Councilman Adams and the attendees that the council is not planning any other action on the matter.

Councilman Adams told the audience that this will not take away from his positive view of the citizens of Houston, and that he looks forward to continuing to be the voice for the people of Houston and championing their causes.

“As a whole, I welcome public oversight and expect us, the Houston City Council, to be held accountable. I can only hope that efforts to hold this council accountable, and the many information requests filed by individuals will be constructive for the betterment of the city and not a destructive tool to harass or ensure the staff is overwhelmed, leaving them unable to perform their duties.”