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Van Gorden Pays For Election 'Mistake'

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By LAURA KINSLER

lkinsler@tampatrib.com

Published: January 24, 2009

DADE CITY - The Florida Elections Commission has fined City Commissioner Steve Van Gorden $3,000 for campaign law violations in his 2008 municipal race.

The commission found that Van Gorden accepted 10 campaign contributions totaling $4,550 for his re-election race before he appointed a campaign treasurer.

The two-time commissioner told the elections staff that he didn't realize he was breaking any laws. He appointed the treasurer when he opened his bank account, but he waited nearly a month to file the papers with the city clerk.

"It was an honest mistake," Van Gorden said. "It wasn't done with any malicious intent. I accept full responsibility."

Van Gorden, a middle school principal, defeated technology specialist Robert Avila in the April municipal election. The complaint against him came from a fellow educator: Jeanan McNary, a social studies teacher at Zephyrhills High School.

"The funny thing is, she supported me in my first two races," Van Gorden said. "We had a falling out during the last campaign."

The elections staff initially recommended a $10,000 fine, but the commission agreed to reduce the penalty to $3,000 when Van Gorden signed a consent order in October. He paid the fine in three installments.

Dade City commissioners earn $1,200 a year, before taxes.

The investigation determined that Van Gorden made the same mistake in his 2004 campaign, but the elections commission did not penalize him for the earlier violations.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 779-4617.

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