Friday, August 28, 2009
Complaint again targets Ware's financials
A former opponent's aide has questioned the delegate's expenditures and reimbursements.
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roanoke.com/politics
State Del. Onzlee Ware's campaign expenditures -- and Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell -- have been challenged again by a former aide of Ware's opponent in the June primary.
Mark Powell filed an official multicount complaint with Caldwell on Thursday of what he called "a long pattern of wrongdoing in violation of state and federal laws."
Powell headed the campaign of Martin Jeffrey, who unsuccessfully challenged Ware, D-Roanoke, in a June primary election.
The complaint filed Thursday -- which included the signatures of hundreds of people supporting it, Powell said -- also asks Caldwell to recuse himself from investigating the allegations because of his close political ties to Ware, including financial support and public endorsements.
The complaint includes allegations that Ware improperly documented reimbursements to himself from campaign funds; that he failed to properly disclose his campaign expenses, such as payments to campaign workers; that he improperly diverted campaign funds for personal uses, including such things as chamber of commerce dues, yardwork and art framing; and that his financial contributions to a Juneteenth Freedom Day Foundation improperly involved his campaign in a nonprofit organization.
Ware has maintained that he has done nothing wrong.
Powell used a provision of state law that says such complaints and allegations should be filed with the commonwealth's attorney where the alleged violation occurred.
Powell challenged Ware's campaign petitions in April in a complaint that Caldwell rejected in June. Later that month, an assault charge Powell filed against the Roanoke City Democratic Committee chairman, Tony Reed, was dismissed by a judge.
Powell filed a series of complaints almost identical with those he raised Thursday with the state board of elections in the spring. That board's staff has been looking into the complaints, but they have not yet taken them up in a public session.
Ware said Thursday that he hadn't seen the complaint but that he understood it generally involved the same issues Powell previously raised.
Based on an earlier complaint from Powell, the state board did ask Ware to clarify some campaign finance reports. In July, it indicated Ware had complied with that request and would not face any civil penalties.
"I've not spent a lot of time on one man's complaint," Ware said, speculating that Powell may be considering a future run for office. "I don't buy this argument that he's only seeking transparency. I have nothing to hide. The information has always been open. The state board appears to be satisfied with it.
"At some point," Ware said, "you have to accept the answer to your question even if you don't like it, then move on."
Caldwell confirmed Thursday that "we have received his [Powell's] complaint. We will evaluate it, and if it appears that something needs to be done, we will do it. If it appears nothing needs to be done, nothing will be done."
On the question of whether he would recuse his office from the investigation, he said, "Don't hold your breath."
