The West Virginia Ethics Commission reminds all candidates and public servants that the West Virginia Ethics Act requires certain public officials, employees, and candidates for county and state office to annually complete and file with the Ethics Commission a Financial Disclosure Statement (FDS), in accordance with W. Va. Code § 6B-2-6. Notwithstanding this statutory requirement, each year a number of mandated filers fail to comply. In 2013, about 100 filers ended up on the Ethics Commission’s delinquency list.
The Ethics Commission will soon publish a list of candidates for state and county public offices, including candidates for County Boards of Education who have failed to file the required Statement. Pursuant to W. Va. Code § 6B-2-6(c), candidates for public office may not maintain their place on a ballot nor may a public official take the oath of office or enter or continue upon his or her duties or receive compensation from public funds unless he or she has filed an FDS with the Ethics Commission as required.
The Ethics Commission has communicated this information to the county clerks and the Secretary of State concerning the urgency of candidates’ compliance.
For candidates and others who have not yet filed the Financial Disclosure Statement, it is urgent that they do so immediately. Candidates may contact their county clerk or the West Virginia Ethics Commission to obtain the required form. It is also available from the Ethic Commission’s website www.ethics.wv.gov.
The Ethics Commission will also publish a list, at a later date, of all mandated filers who have failed to file a Financial Disclosure Statement.