The Marshall County Election Board members held a hearing Tuesday morning to discuss complaints filed by Nicole Haskins regarding campaign finance reports filed by Stan Klotz.
The complaints focused on a $3,000 contribution and its timely reporting, improper co-mingling of funds and false statements. There were also several errors on the reports.
Sean Surrisi, counsel for Stan Klotz and Klotz for Commissioner Committee, said that all clerical errors made in the Pre-Primary Report were amended and a bank account was opened February 18, 2022 to move campaign money to that account rather than having it in a personal account. A co-mingling of funds was found during an earlier hearing concerning complaints on his reporting.
A $3,000 donation from the Better Government Hears People (BGHP) PAC was not deposited until October 17, several months after the PAC was dissolved, but Surrisi noted that Klotz received an envelope from the PAC in July and set it aside and later opened it revealing the $3,000 check. He said Klotz was unsure whether or not to accept it. He eventually accepted the check and reported it as he deposited it on October 17. A copy of the deposit was given to the Election Board Tuesday morning.
Election Board President Rick Huff noted this is the second time a complaint has been filed to amend mistakes on his campaign finance report. Clerk Deb VanDeMark questioned the date in which a bank account was opened as Klotz reportedly said in a May hearing that he had not opened an account at that time. She also asked if Klotz held on to the $3,000 contribution.
Haskins still questioned the balance of the finance reports.
VanDeMark wanted to see the bank statements of the Klotz for Commissioner account to get a better idea if the co-mingling of funds has been resolved, and when the account was officially opened as there is confusion of that date.
Surrisi said Klotz will provide those documents. The board gave him five days to produce the documents.
The board voted to continue the hearing on Thursday, December 15 at 8:30 a.m. ET at the Marshall County Clerk’s Office. Lynn Berndt is acting as proxy for Election Board member Adam Lukenbill in this matter.
