A first-time candidate, Tarleton is taking the unusual step of contacting state officials after a reporter showed her records of 38 e-mails sent on her UW account announcing or promoting her candidacy. The records were provided by Edwards' campaign consultant Michael Grossman. The e-mails were sent in January, February, March and May.

Twenty of the e-mails basically tell friends, family and colleagues that she is running for office and describe the commission post, which is part-time and pays $6,000 a year.

The other 18 e-mails go further. Some criticize Edwards, some ask people to vote for her, some ask people to serve as advisers. One asks for a campaign contribution. Another asks for help getting speaking engagements and corporate support. Another asks her campaign aides to add contributor names to a database.

Susan Harris, executive director of the state Executive Ethics Board, said such e-mails "certainly send up red flags." The board hasn't received a complaint about Tarleton, said Harris, but the rules are clear.

"The law says you can't use state resources for politics," which is defined as "assisting a campaign," Harris said. Candidates can provide limited information, for instance, about changes to their regular work schedule. "If you say, 'I'm out of the office because I'm running,' that's no problem. If you say, 'Hey I'm running, here's my Web site,' that's probably a problem."

When asked for her analysis of UW e-mails that criticize an opponent or seek contributions, votes, advice and other kinds of support, Harris said, "I think every one is an attempt to get somebody to support a campaign. I think the board would read that as assisting a campaign."