A tax-exempt charitable organization co-founded by Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo has been promoting her campaign for City Council on its website, prompting other candidates in the race to cry foul.
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The nonprofit Stand Up for America was founded by Tamayo and her father, state Sen. Mike Gabbard, after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to promote patriotism and America's unity as "one nation under God." It is exempt from paying income taxes and may receive tax-deductible contributions as a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code.
Such nonprofits may not endorse political candidates. Since mid-July, Stand Up For America's website has featured a news release from the Tamayo campaign announcing her candidacy, highlighting her "record of proven leadership," and including quotations from Tamayo and a link to VoteTulsi.com, her campaign website.
Tamayo is vice president of the nonprofit and her father is its president. Contacted Friday, Tamayo said she didn't realize the news release and campaign link were on the nonprofit's website.
"It was an honest mistake from a volunteer," Tamayo said. "I'm very, very sensitive to the perception of impropriety. I wasn't aware that the press release was posted on there. I need to talk to the volunteer who helped with the website and we'll get that corrected immediately.
"I hadn't been to our Stand Up for America website recently so I didn't know that that was up there," added Tamayo, a former state legislator who represented Waipahu and Ewa.
As of yesterday the site no longer included the news release and link.
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In its latest IRS tax filing, a short form, Stand Up for America reported receiving less than $25,000 in 2009. The most recent event held by the organization, according to its website, was a parenting seminar by John Rosemond in 2007.
