By Mary Jo Pitzl |Arizona Republic
Reginald Bolding has run two nonprofits for five years, focused on elevating the voices of minorities and disenfranchised groups on issues from voting to the environment.
But recent actions of one those nonprofits, and the network of groups it connects with, are raising questions of potential violations as he seeks the Democratic nomination for the state’s top elections post, Arizona secretary of state.
Bolding is the founder and director of the nonprofit Our Voice Our Vote, a “dark money” organization that does not have to name its donors. Its political action committee, of which he is the designated agent for federal purposes, has paid for ads promoting his candidacy.
State law bars such committees from coordinating with candidates, and violations are subject to civil penalties.
Bolding’s challenger, Adrian Fontes, said the setup appears to break the law. Bolding said his opponent’s allegations are “disingenuous” and contends enough safeguards have been built in.
Our Voice Our Vote also is part of Activate 48, another dark money organization that has endorsed him and paid for mailers touting his campaign.
Other members of that coalition — Living United for Change, Mi Familia Vota and Chispa, an environmentally-focused nonprofit — have endorsed Bolding.
