| Request that the Board waive the $1000 and $520 campaign finance late fees assessed against the Friends of the Natchitoches Library, its chairperson, Tony C. Smith, and treasurer, Dudley R. Pitt, for the March 25, 2017 election, whose 30-P and 10-P reports were filed 33 and 13 days late, respectively. |
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Tony C. Smith, Chairperson for Friends of the Natchitoches Library, states that one of the Friends' major goals was supporting the renewal of an 8 millage tax in Natchitoches Parish, in a special election held March 25, 2017. He states that this was an extremely important endeavor for them since 96% of the Library's funding comes from this millage.
He states that a total of $2,393.33 was spent in supporting the millage renewal, in the form of posters, radio spots interviews, and newspaper ads. He states that, as a non- profit, he did not think that Friends was required to report those expenditures to the Board of Ethics. He states that their Library Director, Jessica McGrath, told him in late February (after the 30 -day report was already late) that someone in city government had just informally mentioned to her that Friends "might want to take a look at the policy regarding reporting election expenditures to the state Ethics Board." He states that he responded that since Friends was registered with the Secretary of State as a non-profit, he couldn't imagine they would be required to report our small anticipated expenditure on a millage renewal, compared to PAC's supporting candidates for statewide office, etc.
He states he later checked out the Board's guidelines and decided to call the Ethics office to make sure of the Friends' status. He states a staff member stated the it was required to file campaign financial disclosure reports so he filed the reports the following day. Finally, he states that Friends was never notified by mail of the necessity of filing campaign finance reports by the Board of Ethics.
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TYPE OF REPORT: March 25, 2017
DAYS LATE: 32 and 13
ASSESSED FEE: $1000 and $520
REPORT DUE: February 23, 2017 & March 15, 2017
REPORT FILED: Both - March 28, 2017
ACTIVITY REPORTED: 30-P $2176.33 in Receipts, $2176.33 in Disbursements and $0 Funds on Hand at Close of Reporting Period
10-P: $217 in Receipts, $217 in Disbursements and $0 Funds on Hand at Close of Reporting Period
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 for each day until such report is filed.
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30-P Report - Decline to waive.
10-P Report - Suspend all but $100 based on future compliance. The late fee must be paid within 30 days or the suspended portion becomes immediately due and owing.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Jennifer Land |
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