GOP club denies any connection to Miller brochure

The Big Elephant Club, a Republic political action committee, denies having anything to do with a brochure that is now the focus of a libel lawsuit filed Monday by unsuccessful City Council candidate Steve Miller.

Miller was defeated in the May 4 primary by Ward 1 Councilman Michael McDonald.

In the suit filed Monday afternoon by Miller's attorney, Thomas Murphrey, Miller alleges that his reputation was harmed by a brochure stating that he was once kicked off the Opportunity Village board of directors.

The lawsuit claims the Big Elephant Club was behind the brochure and names the club's chairman, George Harris and multiple corporations. The suit says the club, Harris and the corporations, whose names will be added to the suit when they become known, were responsible for the flier.

The lawsuit quotes the brochure as stating, "Steve Miller even became the first person ever removed from the Opportunity Village board of directors. Miller was found to be exploiting the handicapped to advance his campaign."

Harris could not be reached for comment.

But a May 4 letter from attorney Charles Bennion to the local inspector general of the U.S. Postal Service says that the Big Elephant Club had nothing whatsoever to do with the mailer.

In his letter, in which he enclosed a copy of the brochure, Bennion states:

"I represent the interests of the Big Elephant Club. ... On the inside fold-out, the mail piece states, 'Paid for by the Big Elephant Club.' The BEC had no knowledge of this mailer, did not approve it and was never aware of its existence."

Bennion goes on to say that the club found the bulk mail number used for the flier did not match the club's bulk mail number.

The attorney requested that the postal inspector open a formal investigation to identify the source of the mailer. The postal inspector declined, because no money was lost, he said.

Bennion also sent a copy of the letter to Miller but that did not stop the lawsuit, which was assigned to District Judge Stephen Huffaker.

The suit demands a retraction and seeks punitive damages and attorneys' fees.

"I'm not doing this because of sour grapes for losing the election," said Miller. "I do not believe that the flier was instrumental in my overall loss. I just can't stand by and allow this to continue."

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