Larimer GOP Faces More Fines For Report Errors

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) - The troubled Larimer County Republican Party has more bad news as it tries to rectify campaign finance errors made last year. State elections officials notified the party Friday of another fine of almost $15,000 for failing to report a campaign donation.

That's on top of some $48,700 in fines for six other missed campaign finance reports.

The county party's former chairman, Larry Carillo, is subject of an investigation as current GOP members comb through the groups' finances to try to rectify errors.

Friday's fine notification came after the party identified a "major contributors report" that was supposed to be filed right before the August 2010 primary, disclosing the name of a $1,000 donor to the party. Political parties and campaigns have additional reporting requirement just before an election. The $1,000 check was apparently written in July but not cashed until August, triggering additional reporting requirements.

The Colorado Secretary of State's office told the county party that the error could cost the party $50 a day since the date of the mistake, for a total of $14,950.

The other fines were also caused by delinquent filings. A state elections spokesman says additional fines are coming as party members identify other errors.

"They have begun to amend their filings, and in doing so, they're showing they had major contributors in the reporting period that they should have reported," said Andrew Cole, a spokesman for Secretary of State Scott Gessler.

Larimer County Assessor Steve Miller, who was named GOP party treasurer in March to help straighten out the party's financial mess, said a volunteer who has been helping to clean up the party's reports notified him earlier this week of the $1,000 contribution and the potential problem it might create.

Carillo has been under criminal investigation for weeks. Weld County prosecutor Ken Buck has been appointed special prosecutor for the Carillo case. A Buck spokesman says a decision on possible criminal charges is possible next week.

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