By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – The state Ethics Commission has cleared Governor-elect Matt Blunt of any wrongdoing for running newspaper ads paid for by the secretary of state's office.
The commission has determined that Blunt did not use taxpayer funds to promote his candidacy.
Several of his opponents had filed ethics complaints because of newspaper ads that ran before the August primary elections. The ads featured Blunt's photo and a message in his role as secretary of state encouraging people to vote.
Opponents complained because Blunt also was on the ballot, as a Republican gubernatorial candidate.
The secretary of state's office spent about $48,000 on the ads.
Blunt has defended the ad as an appropriate way to encourage people to vote.