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Commissioner Removes 5 From Election Ballot

Candidates failed to file campaign finance reports

By Justin Franz

The commissioner of political practices is removing five legislative and local candidates from the ballot for failing to file campaign finance reports.

Commissioner Jonathan Motl says in his Thursday decision that another 34 candidates who filed their reports late are subject to sanctions, but will remain on the ballot.

Motl’s investigation began after a complaint by Montana GOP Executive Director Bowen Greenwood against Democrat Stephen Hoklin, a House District 45 candidate.

Motl expanded the investigation and found 42 delinquent candidates. He amended that to 39 after finding three had filed.

Most filed the reports after receiving notice.

But Libertarian legislative candidates Joshua Austill and Nicholas Taffs, and Republican Richard Tenneson did not. Nor did nonpartisan Mineral County commission candidate Robert McCandless or Democratic Cascade County commission candidate William Wilson.

They are being removed from the ballot.