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Campaign Spending
Commission fines
Russ Francis for
1998 filing violations

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

The state Campaign Spending Commission yesterday voted 4-0 in its final determination to fine GOP congressional candidate Russ Francis $1,000 yesterday.

It was for what the commission said was violation of campaign spending reporting requirements in 1998 when he ran an unsuccessful election campaign against City Councilman Andy Mirikitani.

Francis now is seeking the GOP nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink.

"He did not file his final election period report," Commission Executive Director Robert Watada told reporters later.

Francis failed to file reports for his contributions and expenses for the 1998 general election through 1999 up to this year, Watada said. He would just file a photocopy of his last 1998 primary election campaign report, Watada added.

But the executive director said Francis is up to date in his reporting requirements at this time, except for payment of the $1,000 fine. The commission will notify Francis by letter he owes the fine and give him a couple of weeks to pay, Watada said.

The former pro football player met a deadline to file an amended campaign spending report or be fined another $1,000. He was fined the first $1,000 -- with final determination voted yesterday by the commission -- in June for failing to turn in the required reports from his unsuccessful 1998 campaign.

Francis earlier had contended commission rules and software were misleading.