TSAGARIS CASE Panel to mull evidence

Tsagaris said he didn't expect the commission to do anything.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The Ohio Elections Commission is expected to consider punishing commissioner James G. Tsagaris for taking campaign contributions from corporations.
At a hearing next week, the board will consider evidence -- including photocopies of checks provided by the Tsagaris campaign -- that the commissioner accepted more than $800 in corporate contributions in 2002.
Evidence forwarded to the board from the Trumbull County Board of Elections indicates "there were illegal contributions and the money was returned," said elections commission executive director Philip Richter.
He said Tsagaris did not file a written response to the charges.
Won't be at hearing
Tsagaris said he did not plan to attend the hearing, scheduled for Thursday, and was not sure if his attorney would go, either. He said that he thought the entire matter was already behind him.
"They shouldn't do anything," Tsagaris said. "I already paid the money back."
Richter said he will take into account Tsagaris' history with the commission when recommending a punishment, typically a fine.
In 2001, the Ohio Elections Commission made Sheriff Thomas Altiere's campaign committee return thousands of dollars in corporate donations and fined Altiere himself $2,500 for accepting the donations, as well as for keeping inaccurate campaign finance records and failing to track donors who gave less than $25.
In January, the commission fined Tsagaris $150 for failing to keep a list of donors under $25, as required by law.
Companies accused of contributing to Tsagaris' campaign could also face sanction from the elections commission, officials said.