Abby Nadeau
Staff Writer

Former city council candidate Barbara Sterns officially filed her campaign financial report with city of Forest Lake officials on Monday, Feb. 12.

Sterns, who faced a possible $5000 fine and criminal prosecution, was given orders to file the campaign financial report by Tuesday, Feb. 20 or face a pre-trial hearing.

However, she avoided further prosecution by reporting she spent $1234.96 on her fall campaign and received $542 in donations.

According to Minnesota Statute 211A.02 each county, municipal or school district candidate must report their campaign expenditures to the city’s filing officer.

During and after the election Forest Lake Deputy Clerk Chantal Doriott notified Sterns on three different occasions of her violation, yet Sterns failed to provide any supporting documents.

Then on December 14, 2006 the city was required by state law to file a complaint with the Office of Administrative Hearings stating Sterns violated Minnesota State Statutes.

On Tuesday, Feb. 6 Sterns and Doriott, along with a clerk from the Office of Administrative Hearings, met over the phone to discuss the issue.

The clerk gave Sterns until Tuesday, Feb. 20 to file or she would face a pre-trial hearing.

Sterns ran unsuccessfully for the Forest Lake City Council in the Nov. 7, 2006 election, but never submitted the required campaign finance material to city officials as required by law.

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