The Party for Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow filed their final campaign finance report with almost 40% of their expenditure details missing.  The State Board of Elections hearing examiner Tony Morgando stated "Their amendment [of the final report] is an admission of guilt."  He also stated "The ruling is in your [Jeff Kissinger's] favor."  The Party for Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow were fined $50.

The Party for Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow's committee chairman is Round Lake Heights Trustee Marva Meeks and the treasurer is Angela Meeks, daughter of Marva Meeks.  The Party for Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow supported the following candidates; Terrance Lumpkins, Jeff Katzel, Jeremy McIntyre, Marla Frontzak (now married to Jeremy McIntyre whos name changed to Marla McIntyre), and Andy Walker.  When a campaign committee supports a candidate, that candidate is required to comply with the committee chairman and treasurer for any campaign contributions and expenditures unless the candidate submits a letter stating that he or she does not recognize the committee. To simplify, the committee is basically composed of the chairman, treasurer and all of the candidates, so they are all responsible for following campaign finance laws.

On September 4th, 2009, Marva Meeks and Angela Meeks were summoned to the Illinois State Board of Elections because a complaint was filed against them by Jeff Kissinger who is the treasurer of the committee Party for Putting People First.  The complaint alleged that they failed to account for $1,752.81 in expenditures and did not report a fundraiser that was held at Richard's Chicken and Ribs located in Round Lake Heights and also failed to include at least $1,800 in donations.  The Daily Herald also published an article which can be seen at the following web address: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=314399.  The Party for Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow in response filed an amended final report attempting to account for the missing contributions and expenditures.  Their amended report confirms that they did not comply with campaign finance laws.

Jeff Kissinger, Trustee Marva Meeks, Angela Meeks and Mayor Terry Lumpkins attended a hearing at the Illinois State Board of Elections on September 4th, 2009 at 10:00 am which lasted for 65 minutes.  During this meeting the details of the violation was dicussed.  At about 20 minutes into the meeting, the hearing officer stated to Jeff Kissinger: "Your complaint has been filed on justifiable grounds."  The hearing officer also stated that "Their amendment [of the final report] is an admission of guilt."  The hearing officer was referring to the fact that the Party for Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow filed an amendment to attempt to fill in the missing contributions and expenditures which proved that they acknowledged that they did not comply with the law when they filed their original final campaign finance report.  Jeff Kissinger stated that the Party for Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow's new final report amendment was still incorrect in that it did not have a ZERO balance and was missing Schedule I and that a payment to Terrance Lumpkins of $153.10 was comingling of funds and in any case a description of "reimburse campaign expenses" was forbidden by the State Board of Elections as defined in their guide title "A GUIDE TO CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE, Page 26, - You should not list an expenditure that only has “reimbursement” as its purpose.  An expenditure always has to describe what the actual purpose of the expenditure was.  Some examples are "yard signs" and "campaign flyers".  The goal of the Election law is to make the public aware of where candidates received their contributions and on what exactly they spent the money on. 

WAS JUSTICE SERVED?

The Party for Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow was fined $50 out of a possible $5,000.  The fact that they left off almost 40% of their expenditures speaks for itself as far as whether it was deliberate.  They should have received a higher penalty but at least they were fined for their wrong doing.

(10 ILCS 5/9‑26) (from Ch. 46, par. 9‑26)
    Sec. 9‑26. Willful failure to file or willful filing of false or incomplete information required by this Article shall constitute a business offense subject to a fine of up to $5,000.


References:

First Complaint:

1. First Complaint and Settlement filed against Party of Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Second Complaint:

1. Second Complaint filed against Party of Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
2. Illinois State Board of Elections Hearing Examiner Recommendation to the Board
3. Illinois State Board of Elections Final Ruling