District 8 candidate to file amended campaign finance report after ethics complaint is filed

Robert Cormell, a candidate in the race to fill the seat vacated by City Representative Cortney Niland, told ABC-7 he plans to file an amended campaign finance report after an ethics complaint was filed against him.

The complaint was filed by Noel Rosenbaurm, a political activist. Rosenbaurm claimed Cormell failed to list the full name and address of contributors listed in a campaign finance report.

“This disclosure is meant to ensure that candidates do not skirt the law by accepting illegal contributions,” Rosenbaurm said.

ABC-7 obtained a copy of Cormell’s campaign finance report. It lists seven political contributions of $250 with only the last name of the person who contributed.

“It was just an oversight on our part,” Cormell told ABC-7, “It’s not a massive problem, it’s an oversight. It happens when you’re working 16 hours a day campaigning. It was our fault and we’ll take care of it.”

Cormell said he filed the report Friday at 11:30 pm and will file an amended version with the full name and address of the seven contributors. Cormell said he has copies of the checks given to him by contributors.

“People are always double checking. I don’t even know who it was (that filed the ethics complaint), but this is part of politics,” Cormell said, “Ultimately, it’s my reposibility because I’m the captain of the ship.”