| Request that the Board waive the $1,000 and $450 campaign finance late fees assessed against John Ray LeBlanc, a successful candidate for Councilman, District 2, City of Zachary, East Baton Rouge Parish, in the November 3, 2020 election, whose 2019 Annual and 10-G campaign finance disclosure reports were filed 247 and 16 days late, respectively. |
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John Ray LeBlanc requests a waiver and states the following:
Initially the District Two seat, being vacated early (November of 2019), was to be filled by appointment of an interim Council Person, and a special election held April of 2020. Due to the costs associated with holding a special election, the Zachary City Council Members voted to postpone until the November 8, 2020 scheduled Presidential Election. When this decision was made, he assumed that the reporting of campaign finance details would also be held until the typical time frame of remittance prior to election. This campaign, and pursuit of election for municipal office, was his first experience with politics. Navigating the process of self-reporting, and without a campaign manager, he honestly did not realize the time constraints with regard to factors surrounding this unconventional delay/rescheduling of election dates.
10-G: It was not his intention to disregard the disclosure, he did not have any transactions during the reporting period and was advised no report needed to be filed. He submitted supporting documentation to include e-mail correspondence, bank transaction history to show zero transactions during the reporting period and copies of the notices.
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ELECTION: November 3, 2020
TYPES OF REPORT: 2019 ANN & 10-G
DAYS LATE: 247 & 16
ASSESSED FEE: $1,000 & $400
REPORTS DUE: February 18, 2020 and
REPORTS FILED: October 22, 2020 and
ACTIVITY REPORT: 2019 Annual: $2,800.00 in Receipts; $1,952.71 in Expenditures; $847.29 Funds on Hand at the Close of Reporting Period.
10-G: $-0 in Receipts; $-0 in Expenditures; $384-91 Funds on Hand at the 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.
LAC 52:1205(C) states if a report is filed more than 10 days late and the amount of activity on the report is less than the amount of the late fee to be assessed, the staff may reduce the late fee to the amount of activity or 10 times the per-day penalty, whichever is greater.
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With respect to 2019ANN, decline to waive.
With respect to 10-G, reduce to $400 based on Rule 1205C; decline to waive.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Charles Reeves |
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