Walter election complaint dismissed

WARREN — The Federal Elections Commission has dismissed a complaint against former Congressional candidate Randy Walter, saying the matter was rated low on a priority ranking system because the alleged offense occurred six years ago and involved a relatively small amount of money.

A complaint was referred to the FEC in August by the Trumbull County Board of Elections, which said it had been told by Walter’s bookkeeper, Patrick Vannetti of Howland, that Walter, of Canfield, had instructed him during Walter’s campaign for the 17th District seat in 2000 to accept cash contributions of up to $1,000 but not record the names of the contributors.

The complaint said Walter told Vannetti to use his own family’s names and or other names and attribute the contributions to them in amounts under $100.

In the response to the Trumbull elections board Nov. 21, but received a couple days ago, the FEC said the total unitemized contributions that were reported by the committee in 2000 appear to be a little more than $19,000.

“In looking at the relatively low dollar amount potentially involved in the violations, coupled with the fact that the activity at issue took place more than six years ago, this office believes that these factors weigh against using enforcement resources to investigate the matter,” the FEC wrote.