Some Candidates Failed to File Finance Reports. Will Anyone Care?

SAN ANGELO, TX – A number of Candidates in Tom Green County could face fines for failing to turn in campaign finance reports or turning them in late.

According to the Texas Ethics Commission, prior to the March 1 Primary Election, candidates must have filed three separate campaign finance reports.

The initial report required was due on Jan. 18. This report shows financial activity through the end the year ending December 2021.

The second report was due on the 30th day before the Mar. 1 primary election. It must contain information from Jan. 1, the date of campaign treasurer, or the day after the date the last report ended, up and until January 20. That report was due Jan. 31.

The third report was due eight days before election day. This report was due no later than Feb. 22. It must contain financial transactions from Jan. 20 until Feb. 20. 

This election cycle there are 21 different candidates. Of the 21 candidates 14 of them turned in their paperwork on time. Seven, however, did not. The majority of the candidates who had trouble with their campaign finance reports are in the County Commissioner Pct. 4 race and all are Republicans.

Two Precinct 4 commissioner candidates turned in all required finance reports on time: Shawn Nanny and Derrick Garnett. 

Incumbent Commissioner Bill Ford and Lori Wilson have only turned in the report due on Jan. 18 and are missing two reports. CoCo Simpson failed to turn in the 30-days prior report. Dustin Barton did complete all of his forms but turned the third report in three days late.

The other two with finance irregularities were Tommy Usery and Levi Vance. Both of these candidates did not turn in a month out report but did submit the week out report. County Judge Candidate Lane Carter was a day late turning in his 30-day prior report.

If anyone is enforcing candidates slacking on their campaign finance reporting, the Texas Ethics Commission has set fines for violations such as late finance reports. When a report that is required to be filed is filed late or unfiled by the applicable deadline, the law sets a late fine amount based on the type of report:

• 8-day pre-election reports: The late fine for a campaign finance report due eight (8) days before a primary, general, uniform, or special election is:
  • $500 for the first day the report is late; and
  • $100 for each day thereafter that the report is late through the date the report is filed, up to a maximum of $10,000.


• Reports More Than 30 Days Late: If a report is more than 30 days late, the TEC sends a warning letter of liability by registered mail to the person required to file the report. If the assessed late fine is not paid before the 10th day after receipt of the registered letter, the fine may be increased by an amount determined by the TEC up to $10,000. Fine increases are considered and voted on by the TEC commissioners at a TEC public meeting.

Will these violations be reported? Does anyone care?

Feb. 25 is the last day for early voting and election day is Mar. 1.