Several candidates endorsed by the group, We the People Kentucky, say they don’t have any affiliation with the group. WTPKY is under investigation by the Kentucky Registry for Campaign Finance after a complaint was filed last week. The details of that complaint are yet to be released.
LINK nky reached out to several candidates endorsed by the group. The candidates who responded said they only filled out surveys for the group. However, several noted that Cassi Schabell is the person that leads the group.
Chet Hand, a candidate running for Boone County Commissioner and has received endorsement from the group, said he’s not involved with the group. However, in a Facebook post in February, Schabell thanked Hand for his help running the weekly meetings.
“I just realized that yesterday, February 18th, was the 1 year anniversary of WTPKY We the People Kentucky’s first Thursday Night meeting! Schabell said in the post. “Figured I should probably give a shout out to Chet Hand for Boone County Commissioner, since he has been there from day 1, helping to lead the weekly meetings, deal with group drama, GET STUFF DONE, and DRAIN THE SWAMP!”
Schabell didn’t respond to requests for comment for this article.
In response to Schabell’s post, Hand said he was involved in the group’s early days but hasn’t dealt with the group in a year.
“I was involved in the original group of concerned citizens, loosely called “MAFA” back in 2021 that started looking at the corruption in our local governments, and what the average voter could do to be involved and influence a change,” Hand said. “After the June 2021 reorganization of the BCRP (Boone County Republican Party), I was no longer involved with MAFA.”
In February photos of the group, most of the candidates WTPKY endorsed are pictured with Schabell (third from left). From left back row: Steve Doan, Jessica Neal, Cassi Schabell, Mirna Eads, unknown, Chet Hand, Martie Rhoden Bessler, TJ Roberts. From left front row: Marianne Proctor, Steve Rawlings, and Danny Whitacre.
The group endorsed House candidates Steve Doan (69th), Steve Rawlings (66th), Marianne Proctor (60th), and Mirna Eads (68th). They also support 24th Senate District candidate Jessica Neal.
They’ve also endorsed these candidates in other races:
Danny Whitacre – Kenton County Clerk
Anthony (Tony) Schmiade – Kenton County Commissioner
Steven Larson – Kenton County Jailer
Chet Hand – Boone County Commissioner
David Fischer – Campbell County Commissioner
Anna Zinkhon – Campbell County Judge Executive
William “Billy” Fuller – Campbell County Jailer
Fuller, Larson, Eads, and Doan all said they only filled out a questionnaire for the group and have no other affiliation with the group.
Whitacre, who is running for Kenton County Clerk on the premise there’s massive election fraud and has coined the term “electile dysfunction,” said this article is a hit piece when asked if he has any involvement with the group that supports him.
“I do read the website, I did answer their survey,” Whitacre said. “Since you start with a false statement, I suspect your article is another ‘hit’ piece.”
No other candidates responded to requests for comment.
WTPKY has been running social media ads supporting candidates and attacking others on Facebook, but they are not registered with KREF. They will have time to respond to the complaint. The group also publishes “Swamp Reports” that list “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) politicians. They also detail their work doing “Republican Party Patriot Takeovers.”
Violations of KREF law can be substantial. Violators who don’t knowingly commit a violation can receive substantial civil penalties, according to Kentucky Revised Statute 121. Those who knowingly commit a violation can receive a Class D Felony. In the case of a knowingly committed violation, the case will be sent to the Attorney General, according to legal counsel from KREF There is also the option for conciliation agreements, which include cease and desist, fines up to $5,000 and other potential fees.