The state ethics commission on Wednesday fined Republican State Board of Education candidate Benjamin Hodge $5,000 for failing to file a campaign finance report.
The ethics commission had filed a complaint against Hodge – a former state lawmaker – for failing to file a campaign finance report by Jan. 10.
The report covered the period from Oct. 23 through Dec. 31.
The commission followed up with a request for Hodge to file the report by Feb. 18.
The Overland Park candidate filed a report on March 2, but the commission levied the maximum fine after considering a pattern of late filings by the candidate.
Hodge did not appear at Wednesday’s commission hearing.
Hodge, who reported giving his campaign $1,367 in in-kind donations for his campaign, could not be reached for comment late Wednesday afternoon.
He noted the in-kind donations in a report for the period ending July 27, but reported raising no other money for the rest of the campaign.
Hodge ran for the 2nd District seat on the board. He defeated David Krug in the Republican primary, 51% to 49%.
Democrat Melanie Haas defeated Hodge in the general election, 56% to 44%.
Hodge served in the Kansas House in 2007-2008 and later on the Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees.
