Dawson campaign continues to be dogged by late finance filings, fines
The Michigan Bureau of Elections has sent Matt Dawson's campaign two 'second notice' letters regarding the fines he racked up this past summer for filing late finance reports. Mr. Dawson was the Democratic candidate for the state House of Representatives in the newly created 95th District and serves as his campaign’s own treasurer. Bill G. Schuette won the general election in November.
Back in October, Mr. Dawson said that the late filings were due to a 'Mac and PC issue.'
“It’s my first time filing these reports and I’m primarily a Mac guy (they only make the software for PCs), so I screwed up a couple things and had issues getting them in,” Mr. Dawson told the City Paper. “The notices [are] being addressed and [the] computer issues have thankfully been resolved so this won’t be an issue again.”
It has become an issue again. Mr. Dawson's campaign was late filing its post-general report. The report was due on Dec. 8 and the campaign submitted its report on Dec. 9.
One 'second notice' letter sent to Mr. Dawson's campaign on Dec. 14 stems from a $150 fine which the campaign reported paid in its pre-general report, on Sept. 30. It remains unclear why the state sent out a second notice. Mr. Dawson told the City Paper he still had to talk to representatives with the state, and the Michigan Dept. of State has not yet responded to press inquiries.
The other fine, one of $25, has not been reported paid in any of Mr. Dawson's reports.
Mr. Dawson has spoken out publicly when it comes to money in politics, criticizing Mr. Schuette for raising so much money in the race.
“Proud to have filed all of my campaign finance reports on-time and accurately,” Mr. Schuette told the City Paper. “That is the same type of accountability and transparency I’ll bring to the office in Lansing.”
Mr. Schuette was ceremoniously sworn in last Wednesday by state House Gary Randall. He takes office on Jan. 1.
Mr. Dawson's campaign reported $2,464.26 in cash-on-hand in its post-general campaign finance report.