MI Secretary of State: Anti-clean energy group illegally hid donors to ballot campaign

More than $53,000 raised from Our Home, Our Voice goes to Citizens for Local Choice; collusion between two groups evident

LANSING, Mich. – Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson found evidence that the dark money nonprofit Our Home, Our Voice collected secret donations from hidden donors to funnel the money to an anti-clean energy ballot campaign run by Citizens for Local Choice. Friday’s decision follows an investigation into allegations made in a campaign finance complaint submitted in April to the state.

Dating back to at least November 2023, Our Home, Our Voice solicited and accepted funds in an effort to advance a statewide ballot initiative. The group failed to register as a ballot question committee and file required reports in violation of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, according to the complaint. Instead, it used its 501(c)(4) social welfare status to illegally hide dark money donations. The scheme is similar to what took place between Michigan! My Michigan! and the Unlock Michigan ballot effort — which resulted in criminal charges. 

“The Michigan Secretary of State determined this shadowy donor scheme broke campaign finance laws,” said Mark Brewer, who represented the complainant. “It’s time for the Secretary of State to take action and hold Our Home, Our Voice and Citizens for Local Choice accountable for trying to undercut the legal legislative process.”

The complaint filed earlier this year by John Tuckerman, of Blissfield, requested an investigation by Benson’s office and provided details of several allegations, including:

• Through a series of Facebook posts, Kevon Martis and Norman Stephens directed people to donate money to Our Home, Our Voice to support the anti-clean energy ballot initiative, with more than $53,000 in secret contributions donated thus far. 
• The source code for Our Home, Our Voice’s website is the same as the website for Citizens for Local Choice.
• Reporting by Planet Detroit has revealed Roger Johnson is both the treasurer for Citizens for Local Choice and the resident agent for Our Home, Our Voice. Stephens serves as Facebook administrator for Our Home, Our Voice while serving as a member of the Citizens for Local Choice ballot committee. Martis, who is spokesperson for Our Home, Our Voice, is also a member of the Citizens for Local Choice ballot committee.
• Additionally, the same addresses appear in Our Home, Our Voice’s Articles of Incorporation and Citizens for Local Choice’s Statement of Organization.

###

Paid for by Michigan League of Conservation Voters, 340 Beakes St STE 110, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, with regulated funds.