Dranesville Supervisor Candidate Misses Multiple Campaign Finance Deadlines

Updated 11/1/19 — Martin filed the campaign finance report that was due on Oct. 15 on Thursday (Oct. 31), which leaves him missing one report.

Earlier: The general election is less than a week away, and the Republican candidate for the Dranesville District Supervisor race hasn’t filed two campaign finance reports.

Ed Martin, who is running against Democrat John Foust, faces thousands of dollars of civil penalties after missing the reporting deadlines earlier this summer and as recently as Monday.

Martin is running on a platform to cut taxes, improve traffic problems and increase transparency in local government.

Martin’s campaign committee, Friends of Ed Martin, filed its first report, which covers April to the end of June, on July 15.

Martin then missed three deadlines — Sept. 16 , Oct. 15 and Oct. 28, the Virginia Department of Elections confirmed to Tysons Reporter earlier this week.

Friends of Ed Martin filed a campaign finance report covering July and August — which was due on Sept. 16 — yesterday (Wednesday), according to Virginia Department of Elections records that Martin emailed to Tysons Reporter.

Both reports say that Martin hasn’t raised or spent anything.

But an emailed statement from Martin claims that he has raised some money.

“When I filed to run in June, I registered and subsequently filed my first report. Due to a clerical error, my most recent report was delayed and will be filed by the end of this month,” the statement said. “Unlike my opponent who raises money all year round, my campaign is grassroots and is less than $5,000.”

Martin provided photos of checks showing the Virginia Republican Victory Fund gave him $500 and the Patriot Republican Women’s Club gave him $50.

For candidates who have filed campaign finances reports late – or not at all — the State Board of Elections sends a letter with a civil penalty to the candidate.

If it is not paid within a set amount of time, enforcement then becomes the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s responsibility, Patricia Ferguson with the Virginia Department of Elections, told Tysons Reporter.

Election officials and staff cannot waive or reduce the penalties, according to State Code.

“These penalties are automatically imposed if a report isn’t filed,” Brian Worthy, a spokesperson for Fairfax County, told Tysons Reporter.

“Martin’s campaign was fined $100 for failing to file the campaign finance report that was due on Sept. 16,” Worthy said, adding that the campaign is also subject to a $1,000 penalty for failing to file the Oct. 15 report.

“Another $1,000 civil penalty is applicable if we don’t receive [the Oct. 28 report],” Worthy said.

Martin seemed surprised when Tysons Reporter asked about the fines.

“I got a letter saying that we’re not in compliance,” Martin said. “I don’t think we got a fine. If we have, I haven’t seen it.”