Officials say finance reports are filed

Many of the Hamilton County elected officers whose names did not appear in a list of local officials who had filed personal finance reports with the state said they filed their forms by or just after the Feb. 15 deadline.

“I was very much on time,” said Chattanooga City Councilwoman Debbie Gaines. “I’m a stickler for those type things.”

Ms. Gaines said she filed her report with the Tennessee Ethics Commission on Feb. 15.

An online search of the Ethics Commission’s Web site last week did not yield Ms. Gaines’ name or the names of at least 11 other local officials.

Ethics Commission Director Bruce Androphy said a technical glitch on Jan. 8 and 9 caused about 100 reports to be lost, but that does not account for the full 1,000 or so forms that are missing.

Mr. Androphy said he did not know of any other problems. He said forms filed electronically automatically go onto the Web site, and those filed by mail go up very quickly.

Mr. Androphy said the commission has been sending out warning letters “in waves” to officials who appear not to have filed.

The Ethics Commission can fine officials $25 per day up to $750 if reports are not filed. After that, it can issue fines of up to $10,000.

Red Bank City Commissioner Ruth Jeno said she filed her form electronically Jan. 30.

“In fact, I was the first one to file in Red Bank,” she said.

Ms. Jeno said she refiled her report Sunday after finding out she was not included in the list of those who had filed.

School board members Chester Bankston and Everett Fairchild said they had filed their reports as well. Lakesite City Recorder Roberta Thomas said she had witnessed City Commissioner John McPherson turning in his report.

City Councilwoman Linda Bennett and school board member Rhonda Thurman also said they had turned in their forms.

Forms filed by Ms. Thurman, Mr. Bankston, Mr. Fairchild, Mr. McPherson and Ms. Jeno appeared in a Tuesday search of the Election Commission site.

School board member Chip Baker said filing his report slipped his mind, but he planned to get it in later this week.

“We got on it (Monday) and filled it out,” he said.

Soddy-Daisy City Commissioner David Skiles said he had forgotten, but he mailed his form Monday.

Chattanooga City Court Judge Sherry Paty and City Councilman John “Duke” Franklin, whose forms were not on the state’s list, could not be reached for comment.

WHY DO THEY MATTER?

State law requires that local government officials file statements of their personal finances. The reports, which show personal income sources, investments and other financial information, are designed to give the public an opportunity to check for conflicts of interest.