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Request that the Board reconsider its decision to decline to waive $120.00 (paid $50.00) balance of $70.00 and $2,000.00, totaling $2,070.00 campaign finance late fee assessed against Miguel Marie Roche Romar, an unsuccessful candidate for Member of School Board, District 1, Jefferson Parish, in the November 8, 2022, whose campaign late fees for 10-P and 10-G. Original waiver request that the Board waive the $120 and $2,000 campaign finance late fees (for a total of $2,070) assessed against Miguel Marie Roche Romar, an unsuccessful candidate for Jefferson Parish School Board, District 1, in the November 8, 2022 election, whose 10-P and 10-G campaign finance disclosure reports were filed 2 and 537 days late, respectively. |
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Reconsideration:
Miguel Marie Roche Romar request a reconsideration and states the following:
She is a high school teacher with a minimal salary. Her daughter's senior year and
preparation for college involve significant expenses. In addition to confusion about which fines were applicable and which had been rescinded, she was abandoned by her campaign team. Ms. Romar was forced to complete the campaign without support or help. During the campaign, she moved, and mail was not received from the BOE. It was never her intention not to be compliant, but she was dealing with her father's death, her new car being totaled, working full-time, and running for office. This campaign created a financial burden. At the beginning of this campaign, Ms. Romar was a college professor and high school teacher. She resigned from her 27.5-year position at Delgado Community College, which was a mistake. Please waive the assessed late fee.
Initial Request:
Miguel Marie Roche Romar requests a waiver and states the following:
She faced various financial and personal obstacles during her self-funded campaign for School Board Member. After retiring from her position as a professor at Delgado Community College, she focused on her election campaign. However, she didn't anticipate the emotional impact of leaving her job, her car was totaled and her campaign manager resigned. As a result, she had to manage her campaign single handedly and sought help from a counselor and therapist to cope with the changes. She paid for most of the campaign expenses out of her pocket. Unfortunately, she was unsuccessful in her second run and became depressed. She is now struggling with election debts and fees, which have worsened her financial situation. Ms. Romar is requesting a waiver for the fees.
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ELECTION: November 8, 2022
TYPES OF REPORT: 10-P & 10-G
DAYS LATE: 2 & 537
ASSESSED FEE: $70.00 & $2,000
REPORTS DUE: October 31, 2022 and November 30, 2022
REPORTS FILED: November 2, 2022 and May 20, 2024
ACTIVITY REPORT:
10-P: $400.00 in Receipts; $-0 in Expenditures and $440.53 Funds at Close of Reporting Period
10-G: $-0 in Receipts; $440.50 in Expenditures and $-0 Funds 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.
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 10-P, reaffirm decision to decline to waive.
With respect to 10-G, reduce to $600 based on Rule 1205C.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Charles Reeves |
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