Florida Elections Commission fines Palm Beach commissioner $2,000

[Judi Lynn]

Florida Elections Commission fines Palm Beach commissioner $2,000

Wednesday August 13, 2003

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Florida's Elections Commission fined Republican Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty $2,000 on Wednesday for election law violations, a penalty far below the $450,000 she could have faced.

The charges stemmed from McCarty's chairmanship of a group that raised money to oust some Florida Supreme Court justices who ruled in favor of Democrat Al Gore during the 2000 presidential election.

McCarty was fined $1,000 apiece for election law violations that her committee accepted excessive contributions, including a $150,000 loan, and for signing an incomplete financial report. The committee, which is no longer in existence, was fined $11,000 for three violations.

``This is about who gave and who got,'' said Eric Lipman, the commission panel's assistant general counsel. ``Someone has to take responsibility. She chose to sign on as chair.'' (snip/...)

http://cbsnewyork.com/national/2000Election-Fines-aa/resources_news_html

[Ratchet]

1. I'm newly relocated to Florida...

...from DeKalb County, Georgia, so I have some interest in voting rights issues. Can anyone tell me if the 90,000 voters illegaly purged from the voting rolls by Katherine Harris before the 2000 election have had their names reinstated to the rolls? Also, what kind of ballots are going to be in place for the next election? Will we have a paper trail?

[Pastiche423]

3. As of the November 2002

mid-term elections, the purged names had NOT been added back to the voting register.

[Judi Lynn]

2. A second article on this loon, from A.P.

(snip) Palm Beach Commissioner Fined Over 2000 Recount Violations
By Brent Kallestad Associated Press Writer
Published: Aug 13, 2003




TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Elections Commission fined a Palm Beach County Commissioner $2,000 Wednesday for taking excessive contributions during an effort to oust three Florida Supreme Court justices who ruled for Al Gore during the 2000 presidential election recount. (snip)

(snip) .....McCarty's troubles began with a fund-raising letter sent by the committee to 350,000 Republican donors, calling the justices "left wing, partisan and actively hostile to mainstream ideas and principles."

Mark Herron, the attorney for McCarty, said they were relieved by the fine amount, but disappointed by the findings his client violated elections laws.

"No fine is really justified," Herron said.

He pointed to a finding earlier this year by administrative law judge, Harry Hooper, who concluded the committee was created and run by a Washington Republican operative, Roger Stone. Hooper recommended the charges be dismissed because a 1999 federal court ruling that declared unconstitutional the statute McCarty was charged with violating. (snip/...)

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/florida/MGAP5HLRBJD.html

[Catt03]

4. This is so not right

McCarty sent out caustic letters about the Democrats and broke campaign laws .......so she is fined $2000. What a joke.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/6526710.htm

[soup]

5. Ok, so I've read both articles and

have to ask -

The Florida Elections Commission fined her for election law violations. Is that what I'm reading?

If a county commissioner breaks an election law, there's a hearing? a committee meeting? what?

Are there any 'formal' charges? Is there a 'regular' criminal court involved? Is it a felony? a misdemeanor? Will she lose her right to vote? Will she be put on probation? Spend any time in jail?

Or is this sort of an 'in house' reprimand, pay the measly $2000.00, spend a couple of days in the news spotlight and life goes on?

Will she keep her job?

and finally, is the name Roger Stone, Washington Republican operative (geeze, that sounds just really i c k y, doesn't it?), one I should know, do some research on, or just keep in mind for future reference?

Definitely too early in the morning to have so many questions. Coffee, must have more coffee.