From the MO Democratic Party, here's some info about the Scharnhorst ethics complaint that the Ethics Commission referred to the MO Attorney General's Office...

http://www.missouridems.org/newsroom/pressreleases/display.asp?prID=47

Problems Stemming from $20,000 in Unreported Funds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Jefferson City, MO --- The Missouri Democratic Party today called on Republican special election state representative candidate Dwight Scharnhorst of St. Louis County to come clean with voters about an ethics case that is currently pending in the Attorney General’s Office involving him. The case arose when the Missouri Ethics Commission on Oct. 26 found probable cause that, as treasurer of the 26th District Senatorial Legislative Committee, Scharnhorst violated Missouri campaign finance laws.

Newly filed campaign finance reports show that the action by the Missouri Ethics Commission may stem from Scharnhorst’s failure to disclose at least $20,600 worth of checks he wrote and accepted as treasurer of the political party committee.

Scharnhorst has since been removed as treasurer of the legislative committee and the new treasurer was forced to re-file campaign finance reports going back more than a year.

The newly filed reports show that Scharnhorst failed to disclose at least $20,600 worth of transactions last March. Failing to disclose this money is a violation of Missouri law (MRS 130.036) and a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. More money may have gone unreported, but those records are not yet available online. The previously unreported contributions and expenditures include:

·         $5,000 contribution from Supporters of Heath Research and Treatments;

·         $5,000 contribution from the Greater KC Chamber of Commerce;

·         $600 contribution from the Rural Telecommunications Committee PAC; and

·         $10,000 expenditure to the Senate Majority Fund.

“If this candidate can’t properly manage campaign funds, then we surely don’t need him handling our tax dollars in Jefferson City,” said Jack Cardetti, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman. “Dwight Scharnhorst owes the voters an explanation of how he managed to get caught up in this ethics mishap. At a time when this country is trying to end the culture of corruption in politics, it would send the wrong message to elect a candidate with these types of ethics issues.”

Scharnhorst is running against Democrat Genevieve Frank in next Tuesday’s special election to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Jodi Stefanick, the author of Missouri’s Medicaid cuts.