Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 19-659
 
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RE:
Request that the Board waive a $360 and $240 campaign finance late fees assessed against Meghan Garcia, in her capacity as a candidate for Councilman, District E, St. Tammany Parish, in the March 30, 2019, election, whose 10-P and Special campaign finance disclosure reports were filed 9 and 6 days late, respectively.
Facts:
Meghan Garcia states that she is a working Talented Arts teacher in St.Tammany Parish and a single mom. This is her first campaign for an elected position. While this process was both a deeply educational experience and a wonderful opportunity for her to learn the process of running for office, she admits that it was also an overwhelming one. Balancing the due date timeline, running the campaign and filing the reports all on her own was a very new process. While she has kept excellent record of all of her campaign expenses and donations, she did hit a few bumps with the reporting process and understanding the necessary forms for each report. She states that she contacted the Louisiana Board of Ethics many times for clarification on questions regarding the campaign reports. She states the late filing of the reports was not an intended mistake, but rather one made due to her lack of experience with this process. She is asking for the Board of Ethics to please consider waiving the late fee assessed.
Comments:
ELECTION: November 6, 2018
TYPES OF REPORT: 10-P and Special
DAYS LATE: 9 and 6
ASSESSED FEE: $360 and $240
REPORTS DUE: March 20, 2019, May 1, 2019
REPORTS FILED: March 29, 2019, May 7, 2019


ACTIVITY REPORT: 10-P: $-0- Receipts; $-0- Expenditures; $3,349.18 Funds on Hand at the Close of Reporting Period.

Special: $1,000 contribution from Roy K. Burns, Jr. LLC


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 but $100 each for the Special and 10-P reports.The late fees must be paid within 30 days or the suspended portion becomes due and owing.
Assigned Attorney: Jennifer Land
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2019-659 Waiver Request