Former official fined for late paperwork

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GREENFIELD — Former Fortville clerk-treasurer Marcie Stafford faced a $1,000 fine for not filing campaign finance reports for her re-election bid last spring.

But on Thursday, the Hancock County Election Board opted to fine her just $25 to cover the cost of postage related to sending mail alerting Stafford to her delinquency.

State law requires candidates seeking office to submit paperwork detailing how they finance their campaigns. Stafford submitted paperwork for the period of time for January 2015 to April 2015, but she didn’t turn in a second report for after April, election administrator Janice Jones told the board Thursday.

The second filing was due Jan. 20 and was 65 days late as of Thursday; the election office has sent Stafford multiple notices, Jones said.

State law allows the election board to fine candidates $50 for each day their paperwork is late.

Because the first report showed Stafford had not brought in any donations for her campaign, the board chose to be lenient and not fine her the full $1,000 — the maximum allowed by law — she was subject to.

Stafford lost her bid for re-election in May to Sherry Durbin, who went on to win the office in November.

She still is required to file her campaign finance report.