St. George • Hurricane Mayor Nanette Billings neglected to include legally required information on a campaign mailer, according to the lieutenant governor’s office.
The mailer, a double-sided large postcard, says the postage was paid by the Utah Republican Party. But it fails to state who paid for the mailer and if the candidate or campaign authorized the mailer — information that state law requires on political advertisements.
“For whatever reason, some mailers do not contain all of the required information,” said Madilyn Topik, legal and policy analyst with the lieutenant governor’s office, which oversees elections.
The lieutenant governor’s office, which has called it “a fairly common mistake,” followed its standard procedure, Topik said in an email, and notified the candidate about what’s required for future mailings.
Billings, in a text message, confirmed she received an email from the lieutenant governor’s office with information about the code and a warning that the office may pursue further action if the issue arises again.
A recent mailer from Hurricane Mayor Nanette Billings didn't include legally required information, according to election officials. The Salt Lake Tribune redacted the address of this mailer's recipient.
“I was aware that I needed to have a disclaimer on the mailer,” Billings said in a text. “However, I should’ve read state law to verify what was needed. I knew that it needed to say the postage was paid by the Utah GOP. I did not know I had to authorize it on the flyer.”
This is not the first time a candidate has broken state law with campaign mailers this election cycle. The Tribune found two other instances in recent weeks involving Riverton City Council member and mayoral candidate Tawnee McCay and Lehi City Council candidate Emily Lockhart receiving similar notifications from the lieutenant governor’s office.
Going forward, the office will provide city recorders with more information about mailers to include in future filing packets, Topik told The Tribune.
“It is important for candidates to know and follow the law,” she said.
Working with the Republican Party
Billings was elected mayor of Hurricane in 2021 and is running for reelection against three other mayoral candidates.
Her campaign mailer states, “Postage paid by the Utah Republican Party.” While voters won’t see political party affiliation on ballots — all municipal elections in Utah are nonpartisan — parties can still help elect nonpartisan candidates that uphold the party’s platform, state Republican Party Chair Robert Axson told The Tribune.
A recent mailer from Hurricane Mayor Nanette Billings lacked necessary disclosures, according to election officials.
Registered Republicans may use the Utah GOP’s nonprofit discounted postage rate if they submit a request online and make a donation to the state Republican Party for the cost of the mailer, according to previous reporting by The Tribune.
Billings said she is a Republican and donated to the Utah Republican Party. The mayor’s husband, Willie Billings, is also the chair of the Washington County Republican Party.
The primary election will take place on Aug. 12. Along with the mayor, two City Council seats are up for vote in Hurricane.