The Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Commission has fined a sheriff in the eastern part of the state $1,000 for appearing in uniform in a primary election campaign ad for Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster.
York County Sheriff Paul Vrbka says he was unaware of the state law that bars public officials from using “public resources” to campaign, resources that include “personnel, property, resources, or funds.”
Vrbka told the Nebraska Examiner he’d seen other law enforcement officers in other ads and was in the Herbster ad with other sheriffs, so he figured it was OK – adding “I guess I learned my lesson.”
Vrbka said that after the ad began airing, he was alerted by a fellow sheriff that appearing in it was probably a violation, at which point he contacted the commission.
Agency Executive Director Frank Daley said the fine was the result of a citizen complaint and couldn’t recall Vrbka self-reporting.
Thia Hartley, the Lincoln resident who filed the Disclosure Commission complaint against Vrbka, says she did it because Vrbka was one of the more visible sheriffs in the TV spot and that she may file similar complaints against the others in the ad.