Election E-Mails Weren’t Illegal, Councilman Says

City Councilman Greig Smith raised eyebrows this week when he sent e-mails to several city officials that touted two ballot measures and had a return address that was Smith’s city e-mail account.

But he said he didn’t violate the ban on using city resources for political purposes because he sent the e-mails through a private mass e-mailing service.

The e-mails urging “yes” votes on a city water bond measure and a state budget proposition were not composed on or sent from city computers, a spokesman for Smith said.