Moak files campaign reports late

Published 6:00 am Friday, February 4, 2005

A Lincoln County lawmaker was among more than 50 state officecandidates who missed a Monday deadline for filing campaign financereports, according to a list released Wednesday by the secretary ofstate’s office.

District 53 Rep. Bobby Moak, D-Bogue Chitto, was among 41candidates who missed the deadline and who had yet to file areport. Eleven candidates missed the deadline but filed a report byWednesday, according to the release.

“I actually brought my file up here from Bogue Chitto, and Ijust didn’t get it done because I was on the House floor dealingwith these deadlines,” Moak said from the House chamber Friday.

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Moak said he filed the reports earlier this week but admittedthey were late.

“We filed those on Wednesday or Thursday, I think,” he said.They told me mine got posted yesterday afternoon on the (secretaryof state’s) Web site.”

Beginning with the 10th calendar day after the deadline,legislative, state district and statewide candidates and politicalcommittees are subject to $50-per-day fines, up to 10 days.Candidates are required to file campaign-finance reports until theyfile a termination report, indicating no more money will be raisedor spent by a candidate.

The next reporting date for candidates is Jan. 31, 2006.

According to Mississippi law willful, deliberate and substantialviolation of the reporting law is subject to a maximum $3,000 fineand up to six months in jail. Furthermore, the law says anycandidate elected to office shall not be certified as elected andshall not receive a salary until all required reports arefiled.