Lawsuits filed for candidate penalties

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002 | 9:25 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa is suing 18 political candidates -- six from Clark County -- who either failed to file campaign reports or submitted them late.

The suit, filed in District Court, seeks the payment of fines ranging from $25 to $15,000. At the same time, Del Papa is giving 23 other candidates, including Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas, until Feb. 6 to pay fines or face a lawsuit.

Clark County defendants named in the suit are Assembly candidates Marion Bennett, who owes $5,750; Byron Goynes, $5,150; Christopher Grant, $25; Chester Richardson, $15,000; Bradley Smith $225; and Clark County Commission candidate Jeff White, $5,100.

Other candidates who reportedly owe $15,000 in fines are Chuck Geshlider, who ran for the Pahrump Town Board; Craig Jorgenson, who sought the District Court judgeship in Nye County; and Diane Titus, who ran for the Fernley Swimming Pool General Improvement District.

Secretary of State Dean Heller, who attempted to collect the fines, turned the names of 60 delinquent candidates over to Del Papa's office in June.

Heller and Del Papa disagreed over whether negotiations to reduce the fines should take place. Heller said there is nothing in the law that allows for negotiations, but he does have the power to waive the full amount, which he did in some cases.

The law requires every political candidate to file three campaign and contribution reports during the election cycle. The last one was due in January 2001. The delinquent candidates can be fined for each day they are late, with a maximum fine of $5,000 for each violation.

Williams, according to documents in the secretary of state's office, filed his first report late and was assessed a $1,775 fine. He challenged the fine, saying he submitted the report on time.

Williams was a day late filing the second report and was fined $25, which remains unpaid. And he reportedly owes $5,000 for failing to file the third and final report.