Group uses fake name to place attack ad

By Angela Hatcher
WSLS10 Reporter/Anchor
Published: May 5, 2008

11pm Story Text:
The top of the page poses the question, who is Court Rosen?  Read all the way to the bottom and you might wonder, who is Joe Smith?

He doesn’t exist and neither does the group ‘Citizens for Sensible Decisions’, at least as far as the State Board of Elections is concerned.

The group is not registered as a political action committee.  That makes the full-page political attack ads the group placed in The Roanoke Times and The Roanoke Star-Sentinel illegal.

Retired Delegate Chip Woodrum wonders whatever happened to, “...letting the people know who it is, who’s doing the talking.”

Woodrum, who helps the Rosen Campaign, called Richmond and complained.

“They’re enough people who are cynical about politics without having people come in, violate the law and give fake names.”, says Woodrum.

From using a fake name, to name calling.  Winfred Noell told me on the phone he wrote the check for these ads, for more than $10 thousand, because he says Court Rosen is quote, “Nelson Harris’ puppet”.  I asked Noell why not use the name of someone in the group, instead of coming up with a fake one?  Noell says in hindsight, they should have used a member’s name.  He says he is not the one who called The Roanoke Times and doesn’t know who did.  He says that person must have been caught off guard, because he says they’ve never needed to give a name before to place an advertisement.

“We should give them credit at least they had imagination enough not to use John Doe.”, says Woodrum.

The imaginary Joe Smith won’t face any punishment.  ‘Citizens for Sensible Decisions’, however, has been told by the State Board of Elections to register and could be looking at fines.