JOHNSON: STATE SEAL NOT POLITICAL

HELENA—With candidate filing in full swing, Secretary of State Brad Johnson reminded politicians that they should not use the Montana state seal on campaign literature.

In a letter to candidates who have already filed Johnson wrote, “The urge to beautify campaign literature by using the seal is strong. I hope we can all resist that urge, and save our use of the seal until after the election.”

He explained that one element of the Secretary of State’s job is to serve as keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Montana.  The office grants permission for organizations or individuals who want to use the seal on materials. That permission is typically not given for political campaigns, according to Johnson, because it would imply that a campaign already had the endorsement of the people of Montana.

“We all take pride in the seal of our state, its beauty and its rich history,” Johnson said. “That makes it all the more important to use it for official state business, rather than campaigning.”

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