first on decorahnews.com: A Sioux City former politician is paying for advertising on behalf of Decorah State Representative Michael Bergan

At the recent Candidate Forum held at Luther College, Republican State Representative Michael Bergan was asked, "What is this 'Legacy Foundation' that is running ads on your behalf?'  His answer was surprising: "I'm not quite sure...I wasn't called or notified."

The website www.politico.com says former Iowa House Speaker Chris Rants was listed as the president and secretary of Legacy Foundation Action Fund during the 2014 election.  A 501(c)(4) filing by Rants in 2014 did not disclose its donors, but www.bleedingheartland.com says the watchdog group "Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington" said the Legacy Foundation Action Fund reported $980,000 in "contributions and grants" on its 2014 tax return.  CREW was able to determine that most of that money came from American Encore, a 501(c)(4) group operated on behalf of the Koch brothers.

All of this, of course, was back in 2014.  Legacy Foundation spent just under $9,000 in 2016, according to the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board.  Legacy Foundation hasn't reported any expenditures so far in 2018, but that's probably a function of filing deadlines.

However much money is being spent on behalf of Bergan's campaign, it's certain that the money comes from outside the district and the advertising is being done independently of Bergan.