Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 19-449
 
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RE:
Request that the Board waive a $2,500 campaign finance late fee assessed against Donovan Fremin, a candidate for State Representative, District 55, Lafourche Parish, in a future election, and his committee's treasurer, Melissa G. Bates, whose 2017 Annual campaign finance disclosure report was filed 333 days late.
Facts:
Donovan Fremin states that John Kerry resigned as chairman of the campaign committee due to a relocation for a job opportunity in California. It was understood between himself and Mr. Kerry when he resigned that all campaign finance reporting was filed and up to date. He states he then contracted Stagni and Company, LLC to take over the accounting and reporting responsibilities for his campaign. After speaking to Melissa Bates with Stagni and Company, LLC., he states she informed him that she submitted the 2018 Campaign Financial Reports on January 7, 2019. She was contacted by staff of the Louisiana Board of Ethics about irregularities concerning the campaign balance on the 2018 Annual report. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the 2017 Annual report was filled out on the online system but was never submitted.
Comments:
ELECTION: Future Election
TYPES OF REPORT: 2017 Annual
DAYS LATE: 333
ASSESSED FEE: $2,500
REPORTS DUE: February 15, 2018
REPORTS FILED: January 14, 2019

ACTIVITY REPORT: $12,902.60 Receipts; $4,915.52 Expenditures; $7,584.48 Funds on Hand at the Close of Reporting Period.


OTHER LATE FILINGS: NONE

Law:
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.

18:1495.4D(1) If the final report of a candidate for an election, as required by Paragraph (5), (6), or (7)of Subsection B of this Section, shows a deficit or a surplus, the candidate and his treasurer, if any, shall file supplemental reports with the supervisory committee of all information required in R.S. 18:1495.5. Such reports shall be filed annually no later than February fifteenth and shall be complete through the preceding December thirty-first. Such a supplemental report shall be filed each year until a report has been filed which shows no deficit and until any surplus campaign funds have been disposed of in accordance with R.S. 18:1505.2(I). The report on surplus funds shall disclose the disbursement of such funds in the same manner as expenditures are reported.

Recommendations:
Suspend all based on future compliance.
Assigned Attorney: Jennifer Land
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2019-449 Waiver Request