The state Campaign Spending Commission has fined Republican state Senate candidate Bart Mulvihill $550 and former Maui County Council candidate Erin McLaughlin $200 - both for untimely filing of campaign spending reports.
McLaughlin, a teacher who failed to advance from the Aug. 11 primary for the council's Kahului residency seat, said Saturday that he had no comment on the fine.
Mulvihill, who faces Democratic state Sen. Roz Baker in Tuesday's general election for the South and West Maui Senate seat, said that he had computer problems that made it impossible for him to file timely reports.
The online site to file reports is "very difficult to use," he said Saturday. "Unfortunately, my two computers can't even respond to the letter sent me the other day" from the commission.
When asked why he didn't find another computer to file a timely report, Mulvihill said there's only one Internet cafe in Lahaina and "unfortunately, there's no parking there."
"I'll do everything I can to pay" the fine, Mulvihill said.
Ironically, he said he's being fined for campaign spending reports although he hasn't raised any money.
"It's kind of funny they're getting upset, and I haven't collected a nickel," he said.
