Candidates Late with Campaign Finance Reports

The commissioner of political practices says 24 candidates for state and local offices face removal from the general election ballot if they don't file campaign finance reports by next Wednesday.

Commissioner Jonathan Motl issued his decision on Friday in a complaint filed Monday by Bowen Greenwood, the executive director of the Montana Republican Party.

Greenwood complained that Democratic state House candidate Steven Hoklin of Billings had not filed any campaign finance reports and asked that Hoklin's name be removed from the ballot.

Motl found a total of 16 legislative candidates and 26 local government candidates had failed to file. After receiving notice of Greenwood's complaint, 16 candidates filed reports. That left 11 legislative candidates and 13 local candidates who had not filed by mid-afternoon. Two other candidates said they planned to withdraw from their races.