LeVota Ethics Fine Response

Ethics fines against Phil LeVota came down today . . . The response claims political persecution.

And provides a great many details . . .

Money quote: "This uncommon policy of targeting a minor city election from over two years ago and targeting an active democrat whose brother just coincidentally happens to be the Missouri House Democratic Leader is another example of politics gone bad in Jefferson City. Why would LeVota get this extreme and unusual effort from the Commission? Is it payback against his brother, State Rep. Paul LeVota for legislative actions? Who knows. What is clear is that it is simply dirty politics and this Commission is blatant in its arrogance and disregard for ethics in its own behavior."

Check it:

"There are many instances where high profile candidates and political organizations have openly and deliberately violated campaign finance law and while everyone knows about it and it is in the news, the Missouri Ethics Commission has sat idly by and done nothing. The common misconception is that the Missouri Ethics Commission cannot review a case without a complaint. That is not the case and the Commission can act whenever they believe there is a violation. But even though there are many examples in the media that call for the Commission to act, it does not do so. With that history, it is unfortunate that recently the Missouri Ethics Commission would target a specific individual in a municipal election from over two years on their own accord without even a public complaint.

"Phil LeVota was a candidate for municipal judge in Lee’s Summit, Missouri in April of 2008. By the Commission’s own accord and without a public complaint, the Missouri Ethics Commission started an investigation and review of this committee’s records. The Commission found that some disclosures were filed a few weeks later than they should and that some donations that were classified as monetary should have been classified as in-kind donations. In the Commission’s discretion, instead of giving the committee the opportunity to simply amend the reports as every committee is allowed to do, the Commission filed a complaint against this committee for these technical errors and asked for a fine. Most importantly, there was never any allegation of any misuse of campaign funds and every dollar was accounted for in the committee records. After receiving the complaint and finding the Ethics Commission was not allowing for any discretion, LeVota reviewed the file and amended all reports to correct the technical errors. This is usually the end to most Ethics issues but the Commission still forced him to pay a $1,500 fine.

"This uncommon policy of targeting a minor city election from over two years ago and targeting an active democrat whose brother just coincidentally happens to be the Missouri House Democratic Leader is another example of politics gone bad in Jefferson City. Why would LeVota get this extreme and unusual effort from the Commission? Is it payback against his brother, State Rep. Paul LeVota for legislative actions? Who knows. What is clear is that it is simply dirty politics and this Commission is blatant in its arrogance and disregard for ethics in its own behavior.

"And the rest of the story? And these are facts: Attorney Michael Kilgore was the chairman of the Ethics Commission that ordered the investigation and continued persecution against LeVota without a public complaint. Then Kilgore and the Commission would not give LeVota the opportunity to amend records to fix any late filings like they do for every other candidate, but instead pursued a formal complaint and a fine. Why this treatment? First, Ethics Chairman Michael Kilgore’s own law firm donated $20,000 against candidate LeVota in support of LeVota’s opponent in this exact election that the Commission investigated!! It is so unbelievable that it is almost comical. And second, Michael Kilgore is the brother-in-law to County Executive Mike Sanders whose seemingly life goal is to fight with the LeVota boys. So you be the judge, what’s going on here? Campaign finance enforcement or political back stabbing? And guess who the Ethics Commission hired to represent them in the complaint against LeVota? Attorney Jack Pletz, husband of controversial Karen Pletz, fired CEO from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences who herself has many more ethical issues going on. So the Missouri Ethics Commission decided to waste taxpayer money to hire this private attorney instead of using state attorneys and they made no explanation as to why. The red flags that this is an 'unethcial' act by the Ethics Commission are numerous.

"And for the record, LeVota paid the fine and updated the records for this closed committee from two years ago. And even though LeVota is not crying foul, everyone knows the real deal and should realize our own political watchdogs are acting on their own political agenda instead of enforcing ethics. It is downright disappointing that the Missouri Ethics Commission can turn their backs on blatant violations all across the state, but abuse their authority and target personal enemies to pursue their own vendetta."
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