CENTRAL FLORIDA — A newsletter sent to thousands of voters has prompted accusations of ethics violations in one of Central Florida's hottest legislative races.
Democrat state Rep. Geraldine Thompson is taking on Victoria Siplin, the wife of Gary Siplin, who is the current state senator for District 12.
WFTV's Drew Petrimoulx found the mailer was paid for by taxpayers.
The eight-page newsletter touts Sen. Gary Siplin's recent accomplishments but also pictures his wife Victoria twice and mentions her six times.
This close to an election it would be illegal for Siplin to send the newsletter if he were running for reelection. But it's not Gary Siplin who's running. He's term limited.
But it wasn't paid for by a campaign, it was paid for by taxpayers with more than $9,000 in funds from Gary Siplin's office budget.
And Victoria Siplin's opponent in the race is crying foul.
"It is using taxpayer money for a campaign piece while I'm having to raise campaign funds," said Thompson.
Long time state legislator Thompson said the newsletter is just one of many examples of Gary Siplin using his political clout to boost his wife's campaign.
"Do you feel like you're running against Gary Siplin?" Petrimoulx asked.
"Without a doubt I'm running against Gary Siplin," replied Thompson.
WFTV went to the Siplins' side by side legislative and campaign offices on Friday, but were told by a staffer that neither was available.
But Gary Siplin did respond to a complaint filed with the state ethics commission by a woman named Amy Ritter who received the newsletter in the mail.
In an email he called the complaint politically motivated adding, "I pray in Jesus' name, for Amy Ritter's protection, her happiness, and her welfare; and, I truly pity her, and may God bless her."
The primary vote is set for next Tuesday.
The winner will take on Republican Fritz Seide in the November general election.
This isn't the first time Gary Siplin has been accused of an election violation. Earlier this year he agreed to pay a $3,000 fine over missing information on campaign finance reports and for taking an excessive contribution.
In 2006, he was convicted for allowing state-paid aides to work on his 2004 campaign on state time, though that conviction was later overturned on appeal.