Monroe County election board imposes $500 penalty for late campaign finance filing, directs findings letter

The Monroe County Rural County Election Board on March 5 voted to impose a $500 penalty on a candidate who filed a required campaign finance report late and directed staff to send a findings letter informing the candidate of appeal rights.

Board members and staff reviewed the candidate’s filing dates and the county’s adopted penalty framework. Staff said the report was due Jan. 21 and was filed March 4. Under the board’s 2024 policy, the local penalty is calculated as 50% of the statutory maximum subject to a $1,000 cap; staff told the board the statute provides a daily maximum that would have yielded more than the cap, so the board applied the 50% cap and set the fine at $500. As staff explained, “It was due January 21 and it was filed March 4,” and the board discussed the $25‑per‑day rate and the $1,000 cap while calculating the final amount.

April Wilson, a member of the public who appeared at the meeting, had separately raised concerns that she received a certified notice alleging a delinquent report even though she said she disbanded her committee in 2023. Wilson told the board she had emailed the clerk on March 1 and provided a CFA‑4 showing the committee was closed; staff confirmed her name had been removed from the delinquent list after records were located. Wilson said she wanted formal written confirmation that the allegation was withdrawn. “I did send an email to this honorable body on March 1,” Wilson told the board, and staff responded that she had been pulled off the list.

The board also reviewed its practice for notifying candidates and handling deceased filers. Staff said automated letters are generated to both the listed treasurer and the candidate, and they recommended phone calls be made in cases where mail is returned or a candidate is deceased. A board member moved that staff be authorized to make phone calls to clarify notices; the motion passed.

The board voted to adopt the penalty motion and then approved a motion to send the standard findings letter that explains the monetary finding and the process for appeal. The board instructed staff to include the statutory appeal information in the letter. No further administrative or criminal findings were made at the meeting.

The board expects staff to issue the findings letter and to publish any notice of imposed penalties according to normal office practice; the meeting record indicates the candidate will have the right to appeal as described in the letter.