A mysterious group called Freedom Forward Alliance has spent months sending political mailers across Wyoming, targeting three state Republicans: Rep. John Bear, Speaker of the House Chip Neiman, and Casper City Councilor Kyle Gamroth.
Unknown Funding and Leadership
The mailers do not list any funding source, and a search of public records in the Wyoming Secretary of State’s campaign database found no registration or expenditure disclosures under the name Freedom Forward Alliance.
Wyoming campaign finance law requires any organization spending more than $1,000 on independent expenditures or electioneering communications to file an itemized statement with the Secretary of State, naming both the group behind the message and the person acting on its behalf.
Connection to Wisconsin
The Freedom Forward Alliance mailer’s return address matches an address used by companies connected to Thomas Datwyler, a campaign finance compliance specialist who works with conservative candidates and committees nationwide.
Datwyler did not respond to requests for comment, and no corporate, campaign finance, or other public record identifies him as an officer, owner, or director of Freedom Forward Alliance.
However, Datwyler’s name is associated with campaigns in Wyoming, including the official committee for Casper businessman Reid Rasner, who is running for Wyoming’s open U.S. House seat.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
