PROVIDENCE — Per week after two Rhode Island state senators confronted fines for marketing campaign finance violations, the state Board of Elections introduced Wednesday {that a} third lawmaker made private purchases from his marketing campaign account.
State Consultant Ramon A. Perez, a Windfall Democrat, shall be fined $6,000.
An audit from the board reveals from January 2020 by way of March 2022, Perez used $1,072 of his marketing campaign funds for private bills, reported $6,574 in loans and $8,595 in marketing campaign bills that by no means confirmed up in financial institution data, and $7,831 in expenditures appeared on financial institution statements however by no means confirmed in his marketing campaign stories.
Candidates can not use cash raised for campaigning for non-political functions, based on state regulation. However based on a Board of Elections spokesperson on Thursday, Perez spent marketing campaign {dollars} at Rodriguez Meat Market 11 instances, takeout from McDonald’s and Taco Bell, 4 transactions at Walgreens, a number of gasoline stations, Dunkin’, and different meat and deli markets.
Perez was ordered to reimburse his marketing campaign checking account $1,072.49.
Perez instructed the Board that he would talk the contribution and expenditure data to be included on every marketing campaign finance report back to his treasurer over the telephone. He alleges that the treasurer didn’t overview supply documentation or marketing campaign financial institution statements.
He additionally admitted to the board that he paid some marketing campaign expenditures from his private funds and never from his marketing campaign account, reasoning that the marketing campaign “owed him” cash which “allowed” him to make the private expenditures.
Perez, who must submit marketing campaign checking account statements and documentation to the board by way of the tip of 2024, didn’t reply to the Globe’s request for touch upon Wednesday.
Perez, a conservative Democrat who additionally represents elements of Johnston, will face unbiased Ivan Montanez within the November common election.
On July 25, the board fined two senators for separate marketing campaign finance violations: Senator Elaine J. Morgan, a Hopkinton Republican, was fined $1,200; and Senator Thomas Paolino, a Lincoln Republican, was fined $2,500.
This story has been up to date to incorporate feedback from a Board of Elections spokesperson.
Alexa Gagosz might be reached at alexa.gagosz@globe.com. Comply with her on Twitter @alexagagosz and on Instagram @AlexaGagosz.
