County Election Board Addresses Late Campaign Finance Forms from 3 Democrats

During the October 26^th meeting of the Marshall County Election Board, members considered action on three delinquent campaign finance reports.

County Clerk, Deb VanDeMark told the board reports were due by noon on Friday, October 21^st.   Three Democrat candidates submitted their reports late. 

Jason Haines, running for County Commissioner in District 1 submitted his report about 3:20 p.m. on the 21^st.  Julie Sarber Spitznagle, candidate for the Polk Township Advisory Board missed the deadline by about an hour and a half and Nichole Walter, running for German Township Trustee submitted her campaign finance report just before 1 on Monday, October 24^th. 

Marshall County Clerk Deb VanDeMark told Election Board member the Voter Registration Deputy sent two reminders to each candidate that the campaign finance reports were due by noon on Friday, October 21.  

VanDeMark said Democratic Party Chairman Shiloh Milner sent a message to the voter registration deputy by phone on October 21, but a form was not signed by the candidate. The financial report was submitted on October 24 at 12:53 p.m. 

Melinda Kielman, Voter Registration Deputy told the Election Board she did not contact Spitznagle because she didn’t know she needed to file a campaign finance report.   Advisory board members don’t typically file campaign finance forms because they don’t make much money and she didn’t believe she had filed a CFA-1.  VanDeMark said Spitznagle did form a committee so the campaign finance for is required. 

Following a short discussion, the local election board agreed to waive the fine for Spitznagle due to confusion on the requirement to file a report. The other two candidates, Justin Haines, and Nichole Walters both filed their forms on the correct date, only late.  The fine is $50 per day including weekends.  Since the forms were submitted on October 21^st, the fine began at noon so each candidate was fined $50 for their violations.