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'It's our responsibility to read the fine print'LOCKHART, Aug 25, 2011 (The Union Daily Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The importance of reading the fine print when running for public office was a major part of an address by State Rep. Mike Anthony to Lockhart Town Council Tuesday evening. Concerns were raised when several candidates who ran for town council in 2009 were fined -- two years later. Several candidates filed disclosure forms late, which warranted a $100 fine. Mayor Ailene Ashe was one of those who was late filing the forms, and she was fined shortly thereafter in 2009. Other members who were late, however, were not notified of their fines until this year. "Nobody else got a letter," Ashe said. "This is the year (2011) they went paperless, and suddenly all these people start getting letters. To me, it seems like a breakdown with the state." The candidates who were fined this year all filed their forms through the Lockhart Town Council Election Commission. Judy Gill -- who was chair of the commission in 2009 -- sent the forms in for the candidates by way of certified mail. Gill said she was trying to save the candidates time and money by doing this for them. As for the deadline which was not met, Gill said the deadline date was printed on the forms, and it is the responsibility of the candidates to meet that deadline. Those sentiments were echoed by Anthony. "I think the real lesson here is that people need to understand that it's our responsibility to read the fine print," Anthony said. "We have to follow these standards set by the state election commission." Anthony also said he would do everything in his power to help those who have protested the fines. He said if they are not paid by next year, the fines can be garnished from the individuals' state income taxes, but he promised to intervene before the situation reached that point. Anthony even offered to pay fines out of his own pocket as a last resort and gave his cell phone number to all who were present. Anthony also said he hopes this type of miscommunication will not discourage candidates from running for office again in the future. "I encourage all of you to run again," he said. "We need good people who are willing to stand up for things." The council also received an update on the progress of an infrastructure upgrade project being funded by a $550,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) the town received in July. The funds are being used to upgrade sewer lines and a water line in the northwestern part of the town. Anthony also commented about the grant, explaining that funds set aside for this type of development are needed. "What some people would call an earmark now is what you're getting," Anthony said. "Do you know why Strom Thurmond got elected all those years? He brought home the bacon." "We can't just think about, 'we've got to cut, cut, cut,' when we can't even flush our commodes," he added. Ashe told the council the Catawba Regional Council on Governments (COG) will soon send out letters explaining the work to be done. Then the bidding process will begin, and the council will accept the lowest bidder unless there are circumstances which require otherwise. ___ (c)2011 The Union Daily Times (Union, S.C.) Visit The Union Daily Times (Union, S.C.) at uniondailytimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |