Campaign finance agencies in Kansas
In Kansas, there are two primary agencies involved in campaign finance regulation: the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission and the Office of the Kansas Secretary of State. The former "is charged with administering, interpreting, and enforcing" the state's campaign finance laws; the latter receives the campaign finance disclosure reports filed by candidates and political committees.[1][2]
- See also: Campaign finance requirements in Kansas
Regulation and enforcement
Governmental Ethics Commission
The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission is authorized to administer, interpret, and enforce the state's campaign finance laws. The commission may set policy and adopt regulations. In addition, the commission is authorized to "assess a civil fine ... against any person for a violation of the campaign finance act." First-time violations amount to $5,000, second-time violations amount to $10,000, and third-time violations total $15,000. All subsequent violations total $15,000.[1][3]
Organization
The commission comprises nine members, all of whom serve two-year terms. The commission's chairman is appointed by the governor. The following state officials appoint the remaining eight commissioners:[4]
- Attorney general
- Secretary of state
- Chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court
- President of the Kansas State Senate
- Minority leader of the Kansas State Senate
- Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
- Minority leader of the Kansas House of Representatives
- Governor (for a total of two appointments, including the chairman)
State law requires that no more than five commissioners belong to the same political party. In addition, the two gubernatorial appointees may not belong to the same political party. The table below lists the commissioners as of July 2015.[4]
| Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission—members as of July 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | Term expiration |
| Dan Harden | Chairman | January 31, 2017 |
| Willa DeCastro | Member | January 31, 2017 |
| Jerome Hellmer | Member | January 31, 2016 |
| Kyle Krull | Member | January 31, 2016 |
| James Meier | Member | January 31, 2015 |
| Mark Simpson | Member | January 31, 2015 |
| John Solbach | Member | January 31, 2017 |
| James T. Ward | Member | January 31, 2016 |
| Vacancy | N/A | N/A |
| Source: Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, "Commissioners," accessed July 27, 2015 | ||
The commission itself is a policy-making body. Day-to-day agency operations are handled by agency staff. The table below lists key commission staffers as of July 2015.[5]
| Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission—members as of July 2015 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Position |
| Carol E. Williams | Executive Director |
| Bill Beightel | Investigator |
| Brett Berry | Attorney |
| Roxie Valdivia | Auditor |
| Rita Pfannenstiel | Auditor |
| Ruth Pile | Lobbying Coordinator |
| Karina Renna | State Level Campaign Finance |
| Jenn Schneider | Local Level Campaign Finance |
| Donna Williams | Office Manager |
| Source: Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, "Commissioners," accessed July 27, 2015 | |
Public services
The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission makes submitted campaign finance disclosure reports available to the public. Click here to learn more.[6]
Agency budget, 2014
In fiscal year 2014, Kansas spent $593,119.29 on the state Governmental Ethics Commission. This represented a 1.4 percent decrease over fiscal year 2013. See the table below for further details.[7]
| Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission—agency spending in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Account | 2013 | 2014 |
| Capital outlay | $4,054.31 | $4,598.97 |
| Commodities | $5,501.15 | $2,801.79 |
| Contractual services | $108,375.74 | $99,017.17 |
| Salaries and wages | $483,756.82 | $486,701.36 |
| Total | $601,688.02 | $593,119.29 |
| Source: KanView, "KanView Search—Agency Expenditures: Governmental Ethics Commission," accessed July 27, 2015 | ||
Reporting
Secretary of State
- See also: Kansas Secretary of State
The Kansas Secretary of State is authorized to receive and file the campaign finance disclosure reports submitted by candidates and political committees.[2]
Organization
The Kansas Secretary of State serves as the state's chief elections officer. As of July 2015, Kris Kobach served as the secretary of state. The Elections and Legislative Matters Division, which directly oversees campaign finance report filing procedures, is led by a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. As of July 2015, Brad Bryant served as the deputy assistant in charge of elections and legislative matters.[8]
Electronic reporting system
- See also: Campaign finance requirements in Kansas
Candidates and political committees may file campaign finance reports electronically. Beginning in 2009, candidates for statewide office (such as governor) were required to file campaign finance reports online. The state's online filing system, which is maintained by the Kansas Secretary of State, can be accessed here.[2][9]
Agency budget
In fiscal year 2014, Kansas spent $559,590.65 on the Elections and Legislative Matters Division of the Office of the Kansas Secretary of State. This represented a 2.9 percent decrease over fiscal year 2013. See the table below for further details.[10]
| Kansas Secretary of State, Elections and Legislative Matters Division—agency spending in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Account | 2013 | 2014 |
| Capital outlay | $18,459.80 | $28,418.96 |
| Commodities | $18,872.45 | $14,338.90 |
| Contractual services | $233,540.19 | $235,267.75 |
| Salaries and wages | $305,705.26 | $281,565.04 |
| Total | $576,577.70 | $559,590.65 |
| Source: KanView, "KanView Search—Agency Expenditures: Elections Legislative Matters," accessed July 27, 2015 | ||
Contact information
Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission
- 109 SW 9th, Suite 504
- Topeka, Kansas 66612
- Telephone: (785) 296-4219
- Fax: (785) 296-2548
- Email: ethics@ethics.ks.gov
Kansas Secretary of State, Elections and Legislative Matters
- Memorial Hall, First Floor
- 120 SW 10th Avenue
- Topeka, Kansas 66612-1594
- Telephone: (785) 296-4561
- Fax: (785) 291-3051
- Email: election@sos.ks.gov
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Campaign finance Kansas. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, "Home page," accessed July 27, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kansas Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance," accessed July 27, 2015
- ↑ Kansas State Legislature, "2014 Statute—Article 41, Section 25-4181," accessed July 27, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, "Commission," accessed July 27, 2015
- ↑ Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, "Staff," accessed July 27, 2015
- ↑ Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, "View Submitted Forms and Reports," accessed July 27, 2015
- ↑ KanView, "KanView Search—Agency Expenditures: Governmental Ethics Commission," accessed July 27, 2015
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "SOS Staff," accessed July 27, 2015
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "E-Campaign Finance," accessed July 27, 2015
- ↑ KanView, "KanView Search—Agency Expenditures: Elections Legislative Matters," accessed July 27, 2015
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