The Marshall County Election Board members reviewed three delinquent campaign finance reports during their meeting last week.
The reports were due by Friday, October 21 at noon ET in the Marshall County Clerk’s Office.
Marshall County Commissioner candidate Democrat Jason Haines submitted his report about three hours after the deadline, while the report for Polk Township Trustee Board Democrat candidate Julie Sarber Spitznagle came in about an hour after the deadline. A report from the Committee to Elect Democrat Nichole Walter for German Township Trustee was submitted Monday, October 24 just before 1 p.m. ET.
Marshall County Clerk Deb 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. Everything was submitted on October 24.
Voter Registration Deputy Melinda Keilman explained that she did not think Spitznagle needed to file a campaign finance report because advisory board members do not need to file a report as they do not make $5,000, but Spitznagle formed a committee which then required a campaign finance report.
After some discussion, the board members unanimously agreed that there were violations and made the decision to fine both Haines and Walter $50 for their violations. In the case of Spitznagle, they unanimously agreed to waive the fine as there was confusion on the filing of the report.
