Wisconsin State Journal Jul 10, 1999 Elizabeth Brixey Courts reporter; Copyright Wisconsin State Journal Jul 10, 1999 The Madison Area Apartment Association will pay about $600 for two election-law reporting violations, Dane County District Attorney Diane Nicks said Friday. The association, which collected money used to support certain Madison City Council candidates, consented to the court judgment for failing to file its reports for the spring primary and general elections on time. The reports, due Feb. 8 and March 29, weren't filed until April 5, the day before the election. Nicks said the complaint against the association was made on behalf of Progressive Dane, a left-leaning political party. "I'm glad the district attorney acted," said party co-chairman David Austin. "It's important that people follow these rules. They're in place for a reason, and no one should be allowed to flout them. "My concern is that we don't get into a situation where people think it's OK to pay a fine in return for keeping their finances secret." Progressive Dane was angered by negative, last-minute mailings sent out by Citizens for Responsible Government. The group was later identified by the apartment association’s executive officer, Noah Fiedler, as a misprint of Citizens for Reasonable Government, which was sponsored by the association. Austin said a second complaint is possible if the final round of election reports, due out at the end of July, doesn’t include disclosure information about the fliers. This is the fourth election-law case brought by Nicks. Previous cases involved disclaimer violations and late reporting. She said in a press release that timely filing of campaign finance reports is essential to the integrity of the election process. "Citizens have a right to be informed of who contributes to political campaigns, and contributors have an obligation to inform citizens through the filing of reports," she said. Nicks said the amount of the forfeitures was based on those sought in similar cases handled by the state Elections Board. The association's Fiedler said in a written statement, "We are confident that our future reports will be filed on time. We are pleased to have reached a fair resolution of the matter."
The Madison Area Apartment Association will pay about $600 for two election-law reporting violations, Dane County District Attorney Diane Nicks said Friday. The association, which collected money used to support certain Madison City Council candidates, consented to the court judgment for failing to file its reports for the spring primary and general elections on time. The reports, due Feb. 8 and March 29, weren't filed until April 5, the day before the election. Nicks said the complaint against the association was made on behalf of Progressive Dane, a left-leaning political party. "I'm glad the district attorney acted," said party co-chairman David Austin. "It's important that people follow these rules. They're in place for a reason, and no one should be allowed to flout them. "My concern is that we don't get into a situation where people think it's OK to pay a fine in return for keeping their finances secret." Progressive Dane was angered by negative, last-minute mailings sent out by Citizens for Responsible Government. The group was later identified by the apartment association’s executive officer, Noah Fiedler, as a misprint of Citizens for Reasonable Government, which was sponsored by the association. Austin said a second complaint is possible if the final round of election reports, due out at the end of July, doesn’t include disclosure information about the fliers. This is the fourth election-law case brought by Nicks. Previous cases involved disclaimer violations and late reporting. She said in a press release that timely filing of campaign finance reports is essential to the integrity of the election process. "Citizens have a right to be informed of who contributes to political campaigns, and contributors have an obligation to inform citizens through the filing of reports," she said. Nicks said the amount of the forfeitures was based on those sought in similar cases handled by the state Elections Board. The association's Fiedler said in a written statement, "We are confident that our future reports will be filed on time. We are pleased to have reached a fair resolution of the matter."
The Madison Area Apartment Association will pay about $600 for two election-law reporting violations, Dane County District Attorney Diane Nicks said Friday.
The association, which collected money used to support certain Madison City Council candidates, consented to the court judgment for failing to file its reports for the spring primary and general elections on time.
The reports, due Feb. 8 and March 29, weren't filed until April 5, the day before the election.
Nicks said the complaint against the association was made on behalf of Progressive Dane, a left-leaning political party.
"I'm glad the district attorney acted," said party co-chairman David Austin. "It's important that people follow these rules. They're in place for a reason, and no one should be allowed to flout them.
"My concern is that we don't get into a situation where people think it's OK to pay a fine in return for keeping their finances secret."
Progressive Dane was angered by negative, last-minute mailings sent out by Citizens for Responsible Government. The group was later identified by the apartment association’s executive officer, Noah Fiedler, as a misprint of Citizens for Reasonable Government, which was sponsored by the association.
Austin said a second complaint is possible if the final round of election reports, due out at the end of July, doesn’t include disclosure information about the fliers.
This is the fourth election-law case brought by Nicks. Previous cases involved disclaimer violations and late reporting. She said in a press release that timely filing of campaign finance reports is essential to the integrity of the election process.
"Citizens have a right to be informed of who contributes to political campaigns, and contributors have an obligation to inform citizens through the filing of reports," she said.
Nicks said the amount of the forfeitures was based on those sought in similar cases handled by the state Elections Board.
The association's Fiedler said in a written statement, "We are confident that our future reports will be filed on time. We are pleased to have reached a fair resolution of the matter."
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