TOPEKA — The Governmental Ethics Commission fined Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach's campaign $5,000 on Wednesday for mistakes in filing expense and contribution reports for the 2010 election.
The commission voted 7-2 to impose the maximum fine after questioning Kobach's campaign treasurer, state Rep. Tom Arpke of Salina. The ethics staff that investigates complaints and reports to the commission had recommended a fine of $750.
The complaint and subsequent fine stemmed from an audit that found the campaign omitted about $35,000 in contributions and nearly $43,000 in spending from reports filed for the 2010 campaign.