INDReporter

Ethics eyes fines against locals

by Walter Pierce

An attorney for the Louisiana Board of Ethics is recommending the agency decline to waive fines levied against a pair of local candidates in last fall's elections who failed to file campaign finance reports on time.

[Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Mike Stagg made two bids for city-parish president. The story has been modified to reflect the correction. We regret the error.]

An attorney for the Louisiana Board of Ethics is recommending the agency decline to waive fines levied against a pair of local candidates in last fall's elections who failed to file campaign finance reports on time.

Mike Stagg, the newly minted co-communications director for the Louisiana Democratic Party who made an unsuccessful bid for Lafayette city-parish president in 2011 and for governor in 2003, is on the hook for the biggest fine — $4,840. Kelly J. Scott, an unsuccessful candidate in the state Senate District 24 election last October, is facing a $720 fine. Both men appealed the penalties, but board attorney Aneatra Boykin is recommending the board decline to waive them.

Another board attorney, Tracy Barker, is recommending the board decline to waive a $2,500 late fee against Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins, who in an unrelated case is facing a ethics charge by the board for allegedly failing to disclose income he received from the Louisiana Teachers' Retirement System.

The board is expected to make final determinations on the fines against Stagg, Scott and Cravins Friday in Baton Rouge.