15-6381-17730-CV

STATE OF MINNESOTA

OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

City of Forest Lake,

Complainant,

vs.

Barbara Sterns,

Respondent.

NOTICE OF DETERMINATION OF PRIMA FACIE VIOLATION

AND

NOTICE OF AND ORDER FOR EVIDENTIARY HEARING

TO: Chantal Doriott, Deputy City Clerk, City of Forest Lake, 220 North Lake Street, Forest Lake, MN 55025; and Barbara Sterns, 8200 Scandia Trail North, Forest Lake, MN 55025.

On December 14, 2006, the City of Forest Lake filed a Complaint with the Office of Administrative Hearings alleging that Barbara Sterns violated Minnesota Statutes
§§ 211A.02 and 211A.05 by failing to timely file campaign financial reports. After reviewing the Complaint and attached documents, the undersigned Administrative Law Judge has determined that the Complaint sets forth a prima facie violation of Minnesota Statutes §§ 211A.02 and 211A.05. This determination is described in more detail in the attached Memorandum.

THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that this matter will be scheduled for a prehearing conference and evidentiary hearing to be held at the Office of Administrative Hearings, 100 Washington Avenue South, Suite 1700, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, before three Administrative Law Judges. The evidentiary hearing must be held within 90 days of the date the complaint was filed, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 211B.35. You will be notified of the date and time of the prehearing conference and evidentiary hearing, and the three judges assigned to it, within one week of the date of this Order. The evidentiary hearing will be conducted pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 211B.35. Information about the evidentiary hearing procedures and copies of state statutes may be obtained online at www.oah.state.mn.us and www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us.

At the evidentiary hearing all parties have the right to be represented by legal counsel, by themselves, or by a person of their choice if not otherwise prohibited as the unauthorized practice of law. In addition, the parties have the right to submit evidence, affidavits, documentation and argument for consideration by the Administrative Law Judge. Parties should bring with them all evidence bearing on the case with copies for the Administrative Law Judge and opposing party.

After the evidentiary hearing, the Administrative Law Judges may dismiss the complaint, issue a reprimand, or impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000. The panel may also refer the complaint to the appropriate county attorney for criminal prosecution. A party aggrieved by the decision of the panel is entitled to judicial review of the decision as provided in Minn. Stat. §§ 14.63 to 14.69.

Any party who needs an accommodation for a disability in order to participate in this hearing process may request one. Examples of reasonable accommodations include wheelchair accessibility, an interpreter, or Braille or large-print materials. If any party requires an interpreter, the Administrative Law Judge must be promptly notified. To arrange an accommodation, contact the Office of Administrative Hearings at 100 Washington Avenue South, Suite 1700, Minneapolis, MN 55401, or call 612/341-7610 (voice) or 612/341-7346 (TTY).

Dated: December 15, 2006

/s/ Beverly Jones Heydinger_____

BEVERLY JONES HEYDINGER

Administrative Law Judge

MEMORANDUM

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 211A.02, subd. 1, candidates or committees who receive contributions or make disbursements of over $750 in a calendar year, must file financial reports with the “filing officer”[1] for that office. In addition to an initial financial report, a candidate or committee must also file a report 30 days after a general or special election.[2]

Minnesota Statutes § 211A.05 subd. 1, also requires that candidates or committee treasurers certify to the filing officer that all financial reports required by section 211A.02 have been submitted, or certify that the candidate or committee did not receive contributions or make disbursements exceeding $750 in the calendar year. The certification must be submitted to the filing officer no later than seven days after the general or special election.

If a candidate or committee fails to file a required financial report on the date it is due, the filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate or committee of the failure to file.[3] If the report is not filed within ten days after the notification is mailed, the filing officer shall file a complaint under section 211B.32.[4]

Barbara Sterns was a candidate for the Forest Lake City Council in the November 7, 2006, general election. According to the complaint, Ms. Sterns has failed to file any financial reports or certification of filing, as required by Minnesota Statutes
§§ 211A.02, subd. 1, and 211A.05. Chantal Doriott is the Deputy City Clerk for the City of Forest Lake. The Complaint alleges that Ms. Doriott notified Ms. Sterns of her failure to file the required financial reports by letters dated October 23, 2006, and November 17, 2006. To date, the City has not received the financial reports from Ms. Sterns.

Because the City alleges that Ms. Sterns has not filed any of the required financial reports, the Complaint states a prima facie violation of Minn. Stat. §§ 211A.02, subd. 1, and 211A.05. Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 211B.33, subd. 2(d), this matter shall be set on for an evidentiary hearing before a panel of three administrative law judges.

B.J.H.

[1] Minn. Stat. § 211A.01, subd. 7, defines “filing officer” to mean the officer authorized by law to accept affidavits of candidacy or nominating petitions for an office or the officer authorized by law to place a ballot question on the ballot.