CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Public employees and officials who are required to complete Financial Disclosure Statements are reminded that their completed forms must be filed with the Ethics Commission before February 1, 2016.
The following categories of public servants are required to file a Disclosure annually: Those elected to statewide offices and county offices; members of county Boards of Education; county school superintendents; members of state boards, commissions and agencies who were appointed by the Governor; secretaries of state executive department departments; state agency commissioners, deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners; state agency directors, deputy directors and assistant directors; state agency department heads, deputy department heads and assistant department heads, and officials elected in Charleston and Fairmont municipal elections.
In addition, during 2016, candidates for all statewide and county public offices, as well as board of education candidates and candidates in the Fairmont municipal election, must file a Financial Disclosure Statement with the Ethics Commission within 10 days of the date on which they file a Certificate of Announcement of their candidacy with the Secretary of State. Candidates who do not file Disclosures may not remain on the ballots for the elections. (Candidates for federal offices and for Delegates to the National Conventions are not required to file Disclosures.)
Blank Disclosure forms will be sent to prior filers via email soon. Forms will be sent to those who have not provided valid email addresses to the Ethics Commission through the United States Mail. Forms also are available on the Commission’s website at www.ethics.wv.gov.
Disclosures may also be filed directly through the Commission’s website. First-time online filers must create a username and password. Prior filers also will be sent PIN numbers, which also must be used when filing online. Those who did not receive PIN numbers may contact the Commission. Previous online filers may file using the username and password used last year. A PIN is not required for those who have filed online before.
Any questions may be directed to the Commission at (304) 558-0664 or at ethicsfinancialdisclosures@wv.gov.