August 6th, 2012 To: Judge Richard C. Luis OAH Docket No.

7-0320-22993-CV The complaint was filed August 1st, 2012. I did not include the original documents and the letters from the OAH office dated August 1st and 2nd, 2012. Findings of Fact: Ms. Ortman, Bruce Schwichtenberg and Kevin Masrud filed for the office of State Senate in Dist 47 for the Republican Party. On May 15th, 2012, Carver County Republicans held an endorsing convention in Chaska where Bruce Schwichtenberg, Julianne Ortman, and Kevin Masrud were vying for the republican endorsement. After the first ballot, Kevin Masrud came in third, and dropped out. On the second ballot the vote was 83-81. After a total of 5 ballots, neither Bruce Schwichtenberg nor Ms. Ortman achieved the necessary 60% of the votes. With the adopted rules at the start of the convention, the body voted not to endorse. The endorsement will be decided in the primary election on August 14, 2012. Over the past weeks the Ortman campaign has erected many signs all around the district with the wording Republican for State Senate without any disclaimer. (Attachments 15 pictures) In editions of the five county wide newspapers, the Ortman campaign inserted a post card ad with the wording on the top front page Republican State Senator. (Attachment Picture of postcard ) Voters have informed us the Ortman campaign has been lit dropping the post card ad over the past weeks. (Same one as the previous line) On August 2nd, 2012 editions of the five local newspapers ran page ads by the Ortman campaign with wording Republican State Senator (Attachments 5 pictures) Mn. State Statue 211B.02 states A person or candidate may not knowingly make, directly or indirectly, a false claim stating or implying that a candidate or ballot question has the support or endorsement of a major political party or party unit or of an organization. Ms. Ortman has been in the senate for ten years.

Ms. Ortman, during the last session, has served as Deputy Majority Leader and Tax Committee Chair. Ms. Ortman has been an attorney for 22 years. Memorandum Acts by the Ortman campaign have shown a willful disregard of election law in Minnesota Statutes. This whole primary process is for one reason, to determine which candidate could use the republican endorsement in the general election. In state level elections, and especially in a district like Carver County, which leans about three quarters republican, this endorsement carries considerable weight to give the voting public direction in casting their vote. As a senator for 10 years and an attorney, one should be able to assume she would have intimate knowledge and understanding of campaign law. Considering Senator Ortmans background and expertise one could only conclude the actions of the Ortman campaign have been done knowingly and with intent to misrepresent endorsement to the voting public and literally steal the election. Our campaign has been in a steep uphill battle for this endorsement from day one. This we understood and accepted. We are challenging a ten year incumbent senator, the Deputy Majority leader and tax committee chair. However, by allowing the Ortman campaign to ignore the law with this much disregard is criminal. There are many different violations of campaign law that could happen in this race, however, none would change the outcome of an election in the manner this violation will. In order for there to be credible elections, cheating cannot be tolerated to any degree. Because of her actions, the playing field for this campaign is not only uneven; it has been turned upside down. Her campaign cannot be allowed to benefit in any manner from these illegal actions. Her action of placing the term Republican on the campaign signs, newspaper ads, and literature have irreparably corrupted and distorted the results of this election.

Your Honor: Based on this information we are asking for a number of things from this probable case hearing:

1. That we are granted the Evidentiary Hearing By Panel in Mn. Statue 211B.35 2. The Ortman Campaign to be ordered to take down her signs in 24 hours 3. We are reimbursed for our campaign expenses since the Endorsing Convention. Our campaign has put in thousands of hours of effort, money and time away from work. For her to cheat like this isnt right. 4. Any other relief the court deems appropriate.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter, Bruce Schwichtenberg