Candidates who failed to file contribution, expense reports sent for prosecution

A list of 35 candidates who failed to file contribution and expense reports during the 2006 campaign season has been sent to the attorney general for prosecution.

On the list of statewide or legislative candidates are a half dozen members of the Independent American Party, including Janine Hansen who ran for Secretary of State, her brother Christopher who ran for governor and Nicholas Hansen who ran for Assembly District 10 in Las Vegas.

The letter from Elections Deputy Matt Griffin asks the attorney general's office to file civil suits in Carson District Court to collect the penalties each of the candidates owes the state for either filing the three campaign contribution and expense reports late or refusing to file them.

The penalties for late filing begin at $25 for one day but top out at $5,000 for each report if the candidate ignores or refuses to file. The total cost for some candidates could run even higher since the state can ask the judge for attorney fees and court costs as well as the fines.

Griffin also asks the AG's office that candidates be ordered to file those reports.

The request to the attorney general's office was made after two separate letters to each candidate informing them they were either late or had failed to file the statutorily required reports and asking they either pay or petition Griffin for a waiver if they have a medical or other reason for filing late. That is in addition to the post cards the elections division mails to each candidate as a reminder two weeks before each report is due.

The list includes one Senate and 10 Assembly candidates, two candidates for Secretary of State - which is charged with enforcing the filing requirements - one apiece for governor and lieutenant governor, one candidate for district judge and three for justice of the peace as well as two candidates for Clark County sheriff.

Janine and Christopher Hansen are among the five on the list facing the maximum $15,000 fines for failing to file all three reports. But there are also seven candidates on the list for just $25 in fines.

Janine Hansen maintains she did file those reports. However, Griffin said, when the process of prosecuting the filing violations began in May, Hansen and others in the IAP altered the reporting forms, striking out the oath to report accurately under penalty of perjury.

She said the oath was replaced with a religious affirmation, which Griffin rejected.

"The law specifies they are supposed to sign the affidavit," he said.

Hansen charged the letters and demands are illegal harassment of IAP candidates.

Griffin's staff is still negotiating with other candidates on the original list of 118. Many of them have either received a waiver or paid their fine.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.