WAKE COUNTY -- Dean Debnam, a Triangle business owner, filed a complaint with the Wake County Board of Elections Monday, because he says he's concerned about the future of Raleigh.
"I believe there's been some expenditures made that haven't been reported,” said Debnam. “And I believe there's been some coordination between campaigns and private expenditures that should have been reported, and it's not allowed under the law."
In the complaint, Debnam calls out Zack Medford, a downtown bar owner and creator of Keep Raleigh Vibrant, a nonprofit organization.
"This complaint is completely false, and it's a waste of time,” said Medford.
Debnam is accusing them of making illegal corporate contributions to candidates for city council. He says they've given thousands of dollars to several council candidates and causes that push for more relaxed drinking rules downtown.
Medford says they've only spent $300 on ads in this campaign, which is less than the recent “DrunkTown” ad, which Debnam was also behind.
"It certainly got people's attention, and it is politics and you want an ad to get people's attention. So we achieved our goal,” said Debnam.
The ad targets incumbent council member Mary-Ann Baldwin and first time candidates running for office.
"I don't see a place for this in city politics,” said Baldwin. “We're not running for president of the United States, we're not running for the Senate. These are the types of things you see in those types of races, not in a city council race."
Debnam also says Keep Raleigh Vibrant used social media, like Facebook, for coordination.
"We're talking about organizations like Vibrant Raleigh that are doing things that are in coordination with candidates, and that's an entirely different thing than just doing some sort of personal comment on social media,” said Debnam.
Medford calls the complaint a publicity stunt.
"I think we struck a cord with Raleigh and that people want to have a seat at that table,” said Medford. “That's why Keep Raleigh Vibrant has been so successful, and that's why these people are panicking and resorting to negative politics to try to make sure they maintain their grip on power."
The Wake County Board of Elections sent the complaint to the State Board of Elections, who will investigate.
Jeff Tippett, who was also named in the complaint, was out of town on Monday, but issued this statement:
“This is a transparent political stunt filed right before the election. It will fail just like the rest of Mr. Debnam’s negative political advertising. It smacks of desperation. The allegations against Targeted Persuasion are completely baseless. The real losers here are the people of Raleigh. It’s sad when people stoop to this level in politics.”