Opponents file ethics complaints over candidates’ failures to comply with law

As reported by Ken Martin of The Austin Bulldog, a dozen candidates for City Council failed to file two different kinds of personal financial statements that are required by state law and the city code. After learning that his opponent had failed to file either the Statement of Financial Information or the Personal Financial Statement, both of which are required of all candidates, District 10 candidate Mark Duchen filed an ethics complaint against Ashika Anguly concerning her failure to file the latter. Anguly told The Austin Bulldog that the personal financial statement had been filed but did not address the Statement of Financial Information. The Austin Monitor asked Anguly’s campaign manager for further information on what she filed. The campaign manager, Laura Hernandez, said by text that Anguly had filed both forms on Wednesday.

Likewise, Council Member Mackenzie Kelly filed an ethics complaint against her only opponent, Krista Laine. The deadline for filing the Personal Financial Statement was Sept. 9 and, according to the Bulldog, Laine had not filed it by Sept. 24. In a press release, Kelly said attorney Bill Aleshire, a well-known government watchdog, would be representing her before the Ethics Commission. Since the commission met last night, they will not meet again until Oct. 23. Laine said via email last night that she had belatedly “submitted all the necessary forms.”