City council candidate Lori Robertson said she and the Legacy Church did nothing wrong with the church pastor standing on the stage asking parishioners to vote for her. The KOAT legal expert told us that churches cannot support candidates if they want to keep their charitable status and not pay taxes. “Look, the early voting is now open. Get off by December 4th because we need people like you on the city council,” Legacy Church Pastor Steve Smothermon said at a service last week. Last week, Pastor Steve Smothermon supported Lori Robertson, a candidate in the city council’s runoff election. Robertson was in the audience. Target 7 found that the Legacy Church is a 501 c3 non-profit organization. IRS documents show that nonprofits are not allowed to give verbal or written support to candidates if they are tax- Something our legal expert confirms: “If you do that, according to the IRS code, you lose your charitable status. And if you do your charitable status, according to the IRS code lose, the IRS tax them like any other company on their donations, “says KOAT legal expert John Day Robertson now that Smothermon didn’t tell people to vote for them.” He said I would vote for them personally, but it’s up to you. She will be in the lobby to answer any questions and you can speak to her and see if she is someone you want to vote for, “said Robertson. Robertson’s opponent, Tammy Fiebelkorn, commented after our story aired : “Under no circumstances would I set up an information table for an election in a church lobby, because church and state are separate. Churches are 501c3 non-profit organizations and should not participate in such political discourse, ”said Fiebelkorn. Robertson said she did not receive any financial support from the Church. “Just because it’s a religious institution doesn’t mean they’re second-class citizens with no rights and the ability to interact with candidates,” Robertson told us. KOAT is also in the process of reaching out to the IRS for an answer. Related Story: Can Churches Support Political Candidates?
ALBUQUERQUE, NM –
City council candidate Lori Robertson said she and the Legacy Church did nothing wrong with the church pastor standing on the stage asking parishioners to vote for her.
The KOAT legal expert told us that churches cannot support candidates if they want to keep their charitable status and not pay taxes.
“Look, early voting is now open. Get off by December 4th because we need people like you on the city council,” Legacy Church Pastor Steve Smothermon said at a service last week.
Last week, Pastor Steve Smothermon supported Lori Robertson, a candidate in the city council runoff election.
Robertson was in the audience.
Target 7 has found that the Legacy Church is a 501 c3 non-profit organization.
IRS documents show that nonprofits cannot give verbal or written support to candidates if they want to be tax-exempt.
Our legal expert confirms that
“If you do that, you lose your nonprofit status under the IRS code. And if they lose their charitable status, the IRS will tax them like any other company on their donations, ”said KOAT legal expert John Day
Robertson now tells us that Smothermon didn’t tell people to vote for them.
“He said I would vote for her personally, but that is up to you. She will be in the lobby to answer any questions and you can speak to her and see if she is someone you can vote for want, “said Robertson.
Robertson’s opponent, Tammy Fiebelkorn, made a statement after our story aired.
“I would definitely not set up an information table for an election in a church lobby because there is a separation between church and state. Churches are 501c3 non-profit and should not engage in such political discourse, ”said Fiebelkorn.
Robertson said she did not receive any financial support from the Church.
“Just because it’s a religious institution doesn’t mean they’re second-class citizens with no rights and the ability to interact with candidates,” said Robertson.
We have contacted the heritage several times, they have not contacted us.
KOAT is also in the process of reaching out to the IRS for an answer.
Related Story: Can Churches Support Political Candidates? Tax laws say no
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