The state watchdog in charge of overseeing political fundraising is proposing changes to make things more forgiving to rookie politicians.
On Thursday, the Alaska Public Offices Commission approved a first draft of regulations that waive fines for late or incomplete campaign disclosures if the person is a first-time filer, was called to military duty or there were technical problems that prevented filing.
“We’re trying to find ways to be more educational and less punitive,” said Paul Dauphinais, director of the commission.
The commission’s records show that most campaign violations are committed by people unfamiliar with the process. “We get a number of people who don’t know they even have to report,” Dauphinais said.
To curtail that problem, APOC has conducted a series of educational forums and workshops in recent years. Those efforts appear to have been successful: “Complaint activity has experienced a general downward trend since 2010,” APOC’s draft biennial report states.
This year, only nine election complaints were filed, the lowest figure since 2007.
Last year, however, APOC’s budget was slashed by nearly a third: from $1.46 million in fiscal year 2015 to just $1.03 million this year. Of the commission’s 14 listed positions, five are vacant and most are likely to remain so.
Dauphinais said the new procedures would allow APOC staff to settle complaints earlier in the process. “We are able to decrease fines or mitigate fines very early,” he said.
That matters because the staff time adds up as complaints escalate. By the time a complaint reaches the full commission for a vote, “it’s a very time-consuming task,” Dauphinais said.
The commission already reduces or waives fines based on extenuating circumstances.
Kenneth Kirk, chairman of the commission, said during Thursday’s meeting that the commission is also proposing statutory changes to the Alaska Legislature. “We did send this year a set of proposed statutory changes along with some regulatory changes we’re trying to make,” he said.
The regulation changes, which do not have to go through the Legislature, will be open for public comment by the end of the year, and comments will be taken through Jan. 29. The commission will then take verbal comments on Feb. 12.
After that, the proposal will go to the Department of Law and other state agencies for review.
“This is a starting point,” Dauphinais said.
