Former candidate Wally Earhart receives refund

Nearly two years after he was fined by the ethics commission, former candidate Wally Earhart received his $3,275 refund in the mail Friday.

Earhart said he was happy to receive the money but was more happy to restore his reputation.

"This is my vindication," he said.

In the months before the 1998 election, Earhart was fined for not filing his financial disclosure statement on time.

He said he lost more than the money he had to pay to settle the fine.

"Many people who had committed to contribute to my campaign shed away after that happened," Earhart said. "I just never heard from them."

He later lost the race for state controller.

Earhart was one of many candidates fined throughout the election. However, in February of this year, the state Ethics Commission waived $188,425 of those fines and refunded another $7,950 but Earhart was not one of those to receive a refund.

After he heard of the refunds, Earhart said he contacted the ethics commission and was told he would be put on the next month's agenda.

He said he did not hear back from the commission until last month when he was told, "The check is in the mail."

Earhart admitted to having filed his disclosure late but said he was not notified by the commission that it was late until the fee had accumulated to $3,275.

He said since others received their money back or had the fines waived, he also was due a refund.

The refunds were granted on the grounds that the commission was reorganized and expanded by the 1999 Legislature and there were some inconsistencies.

Many of the fined candidates said they were not aware of the filing rules and other fees were issued in error.

Earhart, who works for the Department of Taxation, said although he was glad to see the check he was also a little disappointed.

"They didn't offer any interest," he said. "It's been two years. In my office, we include the interest."

Earhart said he doesn't have any concrete plans to run again but will if his party wants him to.