From Staff Reports

RALEIGH ó A television ad by the conservative group Carolina Stompers mocking City Council candidate Elaine Liteís participation in a Wiccan ritual may not have violated North Carolina campaign laws, officials with the state election board said last week.

The ad did not specifically urge voters to reject Lite, a message that would have forced the group to register as a political committee.

Carolina Stompers are listed as a private corporation and are not subject to the same campaign rules with which a political action committee would have to comply.

Under state law, political committees have to disclose their contributions and expenditures if they ìsupport or oppose the nomination, election or passage of one or more clearly identified candidates, or ballot measures.î
A finding against the Carolina Stompers would force the group to register as a political action committee and could result in fines of up to $500 per missing disclosure report.

The television ad shows Lite participating in a public Wiccan ritual on Aug. 3 that was intended to protect a magnolia tree in front of City Hall from being cut down by a developer.

The ad parodies MasterCardís ìPricelessî ad campaign and plays misspelled subtitles making fun of ìPegan witchesî over footage of the ritual.

Lite, who is an environmental activist, said she attended the event to support saving an Asheville landmark from development.

Stompersí founder Chad Nesbitt also has come under fire for racially charged criticisms of the Democratsí Vance-Aycock dinner.

State Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek filed a complaint Sept. 26 after the group blasted the party for honoring the memory of Gov. Charles Aycock, who made speeches supporting white supremacy at the close of the 19th century.

Meanwhile, WLOS has refused to air two ads the Stompers wanted to run the night of the Vance-Aycock dinner, demanding proof of their historical accuracy.

One ad criticizes the dinner and equates the Democratic Party with the Ku Klux Klan.