Williams fails to file expense report; fine remains unpaid

Friday, Sept. 21, 2001 | 10:22 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Assembly Speaker Pro Temp Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas, still has not filed his final campaign expense report due last January and his fine of $6,800 is unpaid.

The state attorney general's office last month notified 60 political candidates who failed to submit or were late in filing their expense and contribution reports with the secretary of state's office.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Kateri Cavin said today she has heard from 40 of the 60 candidates and 10 have paid their fines. She said she will probably have to file a civil suit against the other 20 who have not responded.

One of those who is delinquent is Williams. Cavin said she talked with Williams this week by telephone and he "is willing to cooperate."

She said Williams promised to file his third campaign report by Monday. And he's willing to put a "down payment" on the proposed fine, she said.

Williams could not be reached for comment.

Of the 40 who have responded to Cavin's letter last month, she said she is evaluating 30 of them. Some of them suggested they had good reason for not submitting the reports. She said she will have to meet with the secretary of state's office to discuss the matter.

The law requires every candidate for state, district, county or township office to file the three reports that were due Aug. 29, and Oct. 31 last year and Jan. 15 this year.

Cavin sent letters in August to the delinquent candidates, giving them until Sept. 10 to reply.

A candidate may have missed or been late for one of three filings or was delinquent on all three.

Williams was the most prominent public official who did not file. Most of the other candidates were defeated in their races.