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Carroll again fails to submit campaign reports

July 26, 2012
By NANEA KALANI - Staff Writer (nkalani@mauinews.com) , The Maui News

State Rep. Mele Carroll, who represents East Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe, has been flagged for again failing to report campaign contributions and expenses on time.

Carroll has not disclosed campaign finance totals for the six-month reporting period that ended June 30, according to the state Campaign Spending Commission. The report was due July 12.

Carroll was fined $2,608 by the commission last year for failing to file all five of her 2010 election finance reports on time.

Article Photos

Carroll

She did not return calls or emails seeking comment.

Carroll's most recent campaign finance report shows she raised $100 in contributions during the six months that ended Dec. 31. She spent $500 during the same time frame, which went completely toward her previous late fee fines, according to her disclosure report.

Bart Mulvihill, a Republican candidate for Senate District 6, South and West Maui; and Joe Bertram III, a Democratic candidate for House District 11, South Maui, also have not filed campaign finance reports for the period.

Campaign Spending Commission Executive Director Kristin Izumi-Nitao said the process to impose fines is at a standstill until the candidates file their reports.

Fines, if assessed, can be up to $50 a day for the first seven days after the due date. The fines can then increase to up to $200 a day.

But, Izumi-Nitao said, if the reports show a candidate collected or spent $10,000 or more for the six-month reporting period, the commission can assess a fine of 25 percent of the total, whichever is greater.

The minimum fine for a report filed more than four days late is $200.

"We can't tell until they file a report. It's at a standstill," Izumi-Nitao said. "At minimum, at this point in time, it would be the $200."

The next round of campaign finance reports are due Wednesday for candidates on the primary ballot.

Mulvihill said that he's been dealing with a prolonged illness and hopes to fully recover within the week. He said he hasn't been able to fundraise but has made arrangements with the spending commission to have his reports filed soon.

Bertram could not be reached for comment.

Mulvihill and Bertram also are among five Maui legislative candidates that the state Ethics Commission says have not filed timely financial disclosure reports by Monday's deadline (20 days before the primary election per state law).

All candidates for state elective office are required to file a disclosure of financial interests, the Ethics Commission said. The forms include information about a candidate's sources of income, business ownership interests, debts, real estate ownership and director positions held in businesses.

The commission said a $25 late fee will be assessed against the following Maui candidates:

* Bertram, House District 11.

* Colin Hanlon, House District 11.

* Kaniela Ing, House District 11.

* Edward Kaahui, House District 10,West Maui.

* Mulvihill, Senate District 6.

Hanlon's report was received after the deadline, according to the commission.

Hanlon said he read conflicting instructions and was under the impression that Neighbor Island candidates could file the form with the County Clerk's Office.

"As soon as I found out that wasn't the case for state races, I dropped it in overnight mail, and it got there a day late," Hanlon said.

Ing said he planned to file his disclosure form this week and said the error was a "first-time candidate mistake."

He said his campaign got mixed up because the deadline for campaign finance reports was pushed up two weeks under new legislation. He filed that report three business days late, according to Campaign Spending Commission records.

Kaahui said he wasn't aware of the Ethics Commission filing requirement but plans to file a report soon.

Mulvihill said he's made arrangements to submit his report next week.

* Nanea Kalani can be reached at nkalani@mauinews.com.

 
 

 

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