COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — There are still three weeks before the primary race for a Columbus city council seat, and some viewers have questions about one candidate’s campaign mailers. 

The questions center around candidate Tiara Ross’ campaign flyers. The mailers in question were sent out by the Ohio Democratic Party. We know that from the return address label, but it does not say who paid for them and that’s caused some to raise questions.

Ross is endorsed by every member of the Columbus City Council, but the Ohio Democratic Party has not endorsed a candidate.  

What NBC 4 found is that when the Democratic party does not endorse a candidate, any candidate registered as a Democrat can use the party’s permit to send out mailers.   

The party confirmed it paid for the mailers, saying, “We have not endorsed in this race and while we paid for this mailer, both campaigns are welcome to engage with the Ohio Democratic Party with respect to our mailings.”  

Ohio Revised Code 3517.20 says, “No entity shall do any of the following unless the name of the entity appears in a conspicuous place on or is contained or included within the publication, communication, or telephone call…”

“Any of the following” includes political publications.

Since the party is not a candidate, legislative campaign fund, or campaign committee, lawyers said the “paid for by” identification that the aforementioned entities would need to label their mailers with does not apply.   

The Ohio Elections Commission issued a statement saying, “Ohio’s disclaimer requirement (Ohio Revised Code §3517.20) states that a piece of campaign literature must contain the identification of a responsible party.  The inclusion of the name of the Ohio Democratic Party on this piece of literature satisfies that requirement.”  

The Ohio Secretary of State’s office also issued a statement saying, “If anyone has concerns about any potential election law violations, we encourage them to report them to our public integrity division for investigation. They can do so at https://sosforms.ohiosos.gov/forms/contactus/file-a-complaint.“