South St. Paul Mayor James Francis Fined $500 for Violations in Campaign Finance Case
SOUTH ST PAUL, MINNESOTA—The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) has concluded that Mayor James Francis of South St. Paul, Minnesota, violated sections of the Minnesota Fair Campaign Practices Act during his 2024 re-election campaign, resulting in $500 in fines. This ruling follows a complaint filed by Nicole M. Larson, which alleged multiple campaign finance and conduct violations.
The Administrative Law Judges determined that Francis violated Minn. Stat. § 211A.12 by accepting contributions exceeding the state’s $600 limit and violated Minn. Stat. § 211B.04 by omitting a required disclaimer on a campaign ad published in the South St. Paul Voice. Francis’s campaign received four contributions of $650 each, exceeding individual contribution limits without adequate documentation. Reportedly, these contributions were from eight separate individuals from four households, where the contributions would have been $325 per person. It was not documented as such, which was where the issues arose. Additionally, an ad promoting his re-election failed to include necessary details identifying who paid for it. The OAH imposed fines of $400 for the contributions violation and $100 for the missing disclaimer.
Larson’s complaint initially raised six allegations against Francis, including failure to disclose campaign expenses, creating a false online endorsement, and blocking voter access to his campaign page. It alleged online harassment via a third party. However, the judges dismissed these claims due to a lack of evidence.
The OAH held a probable cause hearing on October 30, 2024, and reviewed supplemental evidence from both parties before proceeding to a final three-judge panel. On November 14, 2024, the judges found that the violations, while "negligent," were unlikely to impact the election outcome significantly. Francis is required to remit payment for the fines by December 16, 2024.
Determination of Fines for Campaign Violations
In reaching its decision on the fines, the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Panel applied a "penalty matrix" used to ensure consistency in penalties for campaign violations under the Minnesota Fair Campaign Practices Act. The matrix helps categorize violations based on the intent of the misconduct (ranging from negligent to willful) and the impact on voters. The categories guide the Panel in assessing the gravity of each case and determining an appropriate fine to encourage candidates and committees to exercise greater care in managing campaign donations and literature.
For Mayor James Francis, the Panel found that the violations were "negligent, ill-advised, and ill-considered," noting minimal effect on the electoral process or voter decision-making. Consequently, the Panel imposed fines totaling $500—a $400 penalty for excessive contributions and $100 for the missing disclaimer in campaign literature—to reflect the violations' seriousness and uphold the purposes of the Fair Campaign Practices Act.
This structured approach ensures that each case is reviewed based on its unique facts, balancing the need for fairness and the deterrent effect of the fines while allowing the panel discretion to adjust penalties based on specific case factors.
Written By: Will Wight
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