Two candidates running for Osage Nation Assistant Principal Chief missed the deadline for submitting their campaign contribution report statements and each paid a $500 fine to remain in good standing as a candidate with the ON Election Office.
Randolph Crawford and Amanda Proctor received fines from the Election Board on Feb. 25 when the board reviewed the submitted statements from the candidates. After reviewing the statements, the board voted 3-0 to fine Proctor and Crawford.
Proctor submitted her campaign contribution report two minutes late via email on the deadline day. Crawford did not submit his report on the deadline day, but later turned it in, said ON Election Supervisor Alexis Rencountre.
Candidates running for ON elected office are required to submit two statements to the Election Office at least 15 business days prior to the election date and the second statement is due within 15 days after the election, according to the ON election rules and regulations. The statements must report all the candidate’s donations from individuals, corporations, LLCs or any business entity whether organized by state, tribal or federal charter. The statements must also report the candidate’s campaign expenditures from the beginning of the campaign up to the statement filing date.
Both Crawford and Proctor paid their fines to the Election Office on March 5. All candidates who receive fines from the Election Office must pay by the end of the Wednesday business day prior to the election, according to the ON election rules and regulations.
Proctor said she was having computer problems on the deadline day and it was emailed at 4:32 p.m., which is two minutes past the Osage Nation government office closing time on weekdays.
Crawford said “it’s my fault” and said the oversight was caused by a mismatched calendar.
The candidate fines are part of stricter ON election rules and regulations (ONCR 13-04) passed by the Third ON Congress. For example, the rules state the following for those candidates who do not pay fines due the Election Office: “All fines must be paid by 4:30 p.m., the Wednesday preceding Election Day. If the candidate fails to comply, all votes for that candidate shall be considered void, and the Election Supervisor shall post a notice of this fact at the polling places before polls open on Election Day.”
The Osage News has requested copies of the report statements and is awaiting those documents.
This is the first year the Nation is holding a primary election for the Executive Branch candidates. Osages may vote early in-person on Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8, at the ON Election Office at 608 Kihekah in Pawhuska.
Rencountre said voting booths will be set up in the Election Office conference room during the two early voting days.
Early voting for the primary election will take place at the following times:
· March 7: noon to 8 p.m.
· March 8: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On the March 10 primary election date, Osages will vote at the Wah-Zha-Zhi Cultural Center at 1449 W. Main St. in Pawhuska. Doors will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for voting.
By
Shannon Shaw Duty
Original Publish Date: 2014-03-06 00:00:00
