Posted on: Saturday, September 4, 2004

Senator's spending ways may prove costly

Advertiser Staff

The executive director of the state Campaign Spending Commission is recommending a fine of up to $10,000 for State Sen. Melodie Aduja, whose campaign finances have been under investigation.

Executive director Bob Watada said he is recommending Aduja pay a fine "somewhere in the neighborhood of $7,000 to $10,000" for campaign spending violations, including making personal expenditures with campaign contributions.

The commission will make a final decision Wednesday.

Watada said in a complaint filed in July that Aduja's campaign didn't provide receipts for campaign checks totaling about $2,300 made out to her ex-husband, Lee Williams, and that some receipts Aduja submitted for other expenditures might have been for personal expenses.

Other violations cited include approving checks to Aduja's campaign treasurer, filing incomplete campaign finance reports and not disclosing a loan.