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Request that the Board waive the $120 campaign finance late fee assessed against Mel Percy, a candidate for Police Juror, District 2, West Feliciana Parish in the October 22, 2011 election, whose 2013 Supplemental Report was filed 3 days late. |
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In connection with his request that the Board waive or suspend the late fee assessed for the late filing of the report, Mel Percy states that he could say that he had some overwhelming reason for being late, but he he says unfortunately he will not create some fabrication He said the notice of delinquency got mixed in with a bunch of junk mail. He says with his real job he is required to travel a lot and stays very busy.
As time went by the notice got covered up with other mail, mainly junk and he simply didn't see the notice to be reminded. He said he didn't check the mail because none of it is ever business related and that all his important communications come by way of email. He says when he was traveling back home on Thursday January 20, 2014, he remembered that the filing was due sometime in February. On Friday morning he dug through the papers on his desk and found the notice. At that time he says he not only called the Board of Ethics, but drove to the office and filed the paperwork. He said he actually received help to correct some things on the original filing which he does appreciate.
He says although he has no great excuse like a tragedy, he asks that the Board please take into consideration that he has never been late, and that the office he holds is a small one and that he funded his whole campaign personally with the exception of one donation. He said the $829.80 left in his account is his own money. He said although he strongly supports all the ethics reforms, he feels that having to pay a fine that equates to 14.4% of that money is exorbitant for only being 3 days late. He also said he does not feel that it is in the spirit of what ethics reforms were intended to do, which is clean up the corruption.
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ELECTION: October 22, 2011
TYPE OF REPORT: 2013 Supplemental
DAYS LATE: 3
ASSESSED FEE: $120
REPORT DUE: February 18, 2014
REPORT FILED: February 21, 2014
ACTIVITY REPORTED: $0 in receipts, $0 in disbursements, $829.80 funds on hand
OTHER LATE FILINGS: NONE
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18:1505.4.A(1) Any candidate, the treasurer or chairman of a political committee, or any other person required to file any reports under this Chapter, who knowingly fails to file or who knowingly fails to timely file any such reports as are required by this Chapter may be assessed a civil penalty as provided in R.S.42:1157 for each day until such report is filed. 18:1484.(2)(b). Each candidate for any other public office shall file reports of contributions in excess of two hundred dollars in the aggregate during the aggregating period.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Aneatra Boykin |
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