| Request that the Board waive the $2,000 campaign finance late fee assessed against Mary Winchell, an unsuccessful candidate for District Judge, 1st Judicial District Court, ES 2, Div. C, Caddo Parish in the November 3, 2020 election, whose 2022 Supplemental campaign finance disclosure report was filed 401 days late. |
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Christi Turner is submitting a request for Mary Winchell and states the following:
Ms. Turner handled the financial affairs from 2014 to February 2022. In January 2022, Ms. Winchell and her partner decided to close their law firm. They attempted to have the mail forwarded, but one of the building owners withheld and threw away any mail. Ms. Turner states that is not an excuse, but between her divorce, two moves, losing her job, and starting a new job, this file got overlooked. They were unaware of the delinquency until Ms. Winchell received the LFO. There was less than $300 in the campaign account the last time Ms. Turner worked on the campaign, and the loan amounts were personally loaned. Ms. Turner and Ms. Winchell need access to the campaign account to confirm the balance, so she has submitted a report that may need to be amended.
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ELECTION: November 3, 2020
TYPES OF REPORT: 2022 SUPPL
DAYS LATE: 401
ASSESSED FEE: $2,000
REPORTS DUE: February 15, 2023
REPORTS FILED: March 22, 2024
ACTIVITY REPORT: $-0 Receipts; $-0 Expenditures; $338.33 Funds on Hand at the Close of Reporting Period.
OTHER LATE FILINGS: ONE- PAID
2021 SUPP (9 days late) - $540.00
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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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Reduce to $600 based on Rule 1205C; decline to waive.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Charles Reeves |
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