FEC drops complaint on Walter

The FEC said potential violations of 19,000 is a 'relatively low dollar amount.'
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
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.
Total more than 19,000
In the response to the Trumbull elections board Nov. 21, but received a few 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.
The FEC said Walter denied having told Vannetti to commit the offenses and said cash donations amounted to only 4,005. He said Vannetti lacked credibility in light of his prior admission to forgery.
Names forwarded
In July, the Trumbull elections board referred the names of four people to the county prosecutor's office for possible criminal prosecution in relation to petition irregularities that surfaced in Walter's campaign for the congressional seat this year. Among the four was Vannetti. The other four are Grace Hreno of Niles, Walter's mother-in-law; Billie Mauritz of Boardman; and Georgene Mummey of Poland. Walter was not referred for prosecution.
Walter withdrew from the congressional race two weeks after the irregularities became public June 9.
James Saker, an assistant county prosecutor assigned to represent the elections board, said Vannetti revealed his accusations against Walter from the 2000 campaign while Trumbull elections officials were questioning him about the 2006 irregularities.
He said he and elections officials consulted with the FEC at the time as to whether they should file a complaint there and were advised they should.
Walter could not be reached to comment.
runyan@vindy.com