Campaign finance agencies in Maryland
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In Maryland, there are two primary agencies involved in campaign finance regulation: the Maryland State Board of Elections and the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor. The former oversees campaign finance reporting processes for candidates and political committees. The latter investigates and sometimes prosecutes civil and criminal violations of the law.
Maryland State Board of Elections
Authority
The Maryland State Board of Elections is authorized to receive and process required campaign finance reports. At its discretion, the board may audit campaign finance reports and associated accounts. In addition, the board is authorized to levy fines for certain violations of the state's campaign finance laws. These fines cannot exceed $500 per violation.[1][2]
Organization
The board of elections comprises five members, all of whom are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Maryland State Senate. Three members must belong to the majority political party and two must belong to the minority party. The table below lists board members as of August 2015.[3]
| Maryland State Board of Elections—members as of August 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | Party |
| David J. McManus, Jr. | Chairman |  Republican
|
| Patrick J. Hogan | Vice Chairman |  Democratic
|
| Michael R. Cogan | Member | Republican
|
| Kelley A. Howells | Member | Republican
|
| Bobbie S. Mack | Member | Democratic
|
| Source: Maryland State Board of Elections, "About SBE," accessed August 10, 2015 | ||
Day-to-day operations are conducted by a professional staff.
Agency budget, 2014
In fiscal year 2014, total expenditures for the Maryland State Board of Elections equaled $18.8 million. See the table below for further details.[4]
| Maryland State Board of Elections—agency spending in fiscal year 2014 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spending type | Amount | |
| General fund expenditures | $9,065,385 | |
| Special fund expenditures | $8,081,375 | |
| Federal fund expenditures | $1,056,132 | |
| Reimbursable fund expenditures | $549,066 | |
| Total | $18,751,958 | |
| Source: Maryland Department of Budget and Management, "State Budget Books, FY 2016: Vol. 1," accessed August 10, 2015 | ||
Maryland State Prosecutor
Authority
An individual or group that unknowingly violates Maryland's campaign finance laws may be subject to a civil penalty of no more than $5,000. These penalties are issued by the state prosecutor. An individual or group that knowingly violates the law may be subject to a fine of no more than $25,000, imprisonment for one year, or both. The state prosecutor is authorized to investigate alleged criminal violations and recommend prosecution to the Maryland Attorney General or the state's attorney.[5][6][7]
Organization
The state prosecutor is appointed by the governor. Nominations are made by the State Prosecutor Selection and Disabilities Commission. The state prosecutor serves a six-year term. The table below lists key staff within the state prosecutor's office as of August 2015.[7][8]
| Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor—staff as of August 2015 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Position |
| Emmet C. Davitt | State Prosecutor |
| Thomas M. McDonough | Deputy State Prosecutor |
| Michael J. Dunty | Senior Assistant State Prosecutor |
| Katherine Anthony | Assistant State Prosecutor |
| James I. Cabezas | Chief Investigator |
| Genie Gunthrop | Director of Office Administration |
| Source: Maryland State Prosecutor, "Organizational Structure," accessed August 10, 2015 | |
Agency budget
In fiscal year 2014, total expenditures for the state prosecutor's office equaled $1.35 million. See the table below for further details.[4]
| Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor—agency spending in fiscal year 2014 | |
|---|---|
| Spending type | Amount |
| General fund expenditures | $1,339,713 |
| Reimbursable fund expenditures | $10,776 |
| Total | $1,350,489 |
| Source: Maryland Department of Budget and Management, "State Budget Books, FY 2016: Vol. 1," accessed August 10, 2015 | |
Contact information
Maryland State Board of Elections
- 151 West Street, Suite 200
- Annapolis, Maryland 21401
- Telephone: 410-269-2840
- Fax: 410-974-2019
- Email: [email protected]
Maryland State Prosecutor
- 300 East Joppa Road
- Hampton Plaza, Suite 410
- Towson, Maryland 21286-3152
- Telephone: 410-321-4067
- Fax: 410-321-3851
- Email: [email protected]
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Annotated Code of Maryland, "Election Law, Title 2, Section 102," accessed August 10, 2015
- ↑ Annotated Code of Maryland, "Election Law, Title 13, Subtitle 6, Section 604.1," accessed August 10, 2015
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "About SBE," accessed August 10, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Maryland Department of Budget and Management, "State Budget Books, FY 2016: Vol. 1," accessed August 10, 2015
- ↑ Annotated Code of Maryland, "Election Law, Title 13, Subtitle 6, Section 604," accessed August 10, 2015
- ↑ Annotated Code of Maryland, "Election Law, Title 13, Subtitle 6, Section 603," accessed August 10, 2015
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Maryland State Prosecutor, "Mission," accessed August 10, 2015
- ↑ Maryland State Prosecutor, "Organizational Structure," accessed August 10, 2015
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