Complaint: Iowa Senator engaged in election misconduct

A complaint referred to a prosecutor Wednesday alleges Iowa Senator Matt McCoy illegally campaigned at the Polk County Election Office this week.

McCoy, who is seeking office as a Polk County Supervisor, was part of a group who on Monday advocated for early voting. He posted video taken at the election office on Facebook.

McCoy contends he was simply greeting people and talking with them about early voting, not about any specific candidate or ballot issue.

But Derek Snyder — the campaign manager of Polk County Supervisor John Mauro, who witnessed the event — said he believes McCoy crossed a legal line. Snyder noted that multiple people were wearing shirts advocating for McCoy when they entered the building and voted.

Campaigning or electioneering of any kind in a polling place is prohibited by Iowa’s election misconduct law. Loitering in a polling place while wearing political items is also illegal. People who violate the law face serious misdemeanor charges that can result in fines up to $1,850 and a year in jail.

Snyder filed a complaint Monday with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. The board, which doesn’t enforce that section of the law, forwarded the matter to Polk County Attorney John Sarcone.

“His willingness to flout the law on social media is indicative that he will continue this activity unless your office enforces the law and maintains order at polling locations,” Snyder wrote in Wednesday’s complaint.

Sarcone said he was recusing himself, noting that he and McCoy are distantly related. He said he was instead referring the issue to a prosecuting attorney for further review.

McCoy and Mauro are competing on the June 5 Democratic primary ballot. Lou McDonald, a former staffer for presidential candidate Martin O’Malley, dropped out of the race.

This week is not the first clash between the Mauro and McCoy campaigns. Last month McCoy questioned the judgement behind Prairie Meadows CEO Gary Palmer's decision to host a fundraiser for Mauro, noting ongoing lease negotiations between the casino and Polk County.

“It’s part of the silly season and things like this are going to happen,” McCoy said Wednesday in response to Snyder’s complaint. “I just think it’s important to be open and transparent about what we were doing and why we were there.”