The state’s campaign finance watchdog has referred to Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office the names of three former City Council candidates the agency says haven’t filed their 2009 year-end reports.
In a Sept. 10 letter to Coakley, Michael Sullivan, director of the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance, said former candidates Ego Ezedi, Tomas Gonzalez and Scotland Willis had not filed “certain required campaign finance report(s).”
All three unsuccessfully ran for City Council At-Large last year, in a field that, before a September preliminary, included a total of 15 candidates.
“While the system of referring non-filers has been efficient and effective during the past years, the strongest possible action should be taken against those individuals and political committees who continue to ignore this statute and disregard the importance of compliance,” Sullivan wrote. “It is critical to the overall effectiveness of this agency to send a clear message that non-filing, even by those with limited activity, cannot be condoned.”
Sullivan also said that each candidate or campaign committee treasurer who did not file has been assessed a penalty. The penalty is $10 for each day late a report is late, with the fine going up to $2,500 total.
Gonzalez, former chief of staff of Boston’s Commission on the Affairs of the Elderly, said his report had not been filed primarily because his treasurer had moved. “I’m going to call them today and clarify that,” Gonzalez told the Reporter.
Ezedi, a senior pastor at the Empowerment Christian Church who has attempted runs for City Council At-Large and against District Councillor Charles Yancey, did not immediately respond to a request for comment left on his voicemail.
Willis, a local business consultant, could not be reached for comment.
