12 October 2016

PSC candidate Caron Cooper finally files C-5 finance report

Independent Public Service Commission District 3 Caron Cooper today filed — more than a week after it was due — her C-5 campaign finance report for the 23 June through 29 September reporting period.

A formal complaint that Cooper had failed to file the report as required by law was filed on 6 October by Mary Caffero of Helena. Caffero is a Democratic State Senator.

Caffero’s complaint is pending. Cooper may be sanctioned for filing late.

Cooper raised $10,027 during the reporting period, and spent $11,292, leaving her with $253 in the bank.

One expenditure, $1,410 to Markouture, Livingston, MT, was for “Jar openers Parade Toss.” An interesting way of reminding voters that she’s the one to keep the lid on utility expenditures.

Both of her opponents, Democrat Rep. Pat Noonan, and incumbent PSC Commissioner Republican Roger Koopman, filed their C-5s on time.

Noonan reported receipts of $8,139, expenditures of $12,883, and $3,559 in the bank. He’s contributed a bit over $3,000 of his own money to the campaign.

Koopman reported receipts of $16,870, expenditures of $6,733, and $10,137 in the bank.

Noonan and Koopman probably spent heavily during the first week of October.