STATE OF MINNESOTA

CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE BOARD

CONCILIATION

AGREEMENT

In the matter of the Ruth (Connie) Volunteer Committee (#15271)

Pursuant to Minn. Stat. §10A.28, subd. 3, the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board and Representative Connie Ruth hereby agree as follows:

1. During 2002, the Ruth (Connie) Volunteer Committee accepted $5,626 in contributions from special sources. These sources include registered lobbyists from whom the Committee accepted $200, and political committees or political funds from which the Committee accepted $5,426. The total amount of these contributions exceeded by $150 the applicable limit on aggregate contributions from special sources, which for this candidate was $5,476. The amount of the excess contributions was not returned to the contributors within 60 days as required by Minn. Stat. §10A.15, subd. 3.

2. By letter dated April 9, 2003, Lisa Born, treasurer, indicated that the committee was unaware that a contribution the committee reported as an individual contribution was in fact from a lobbyist. Ms. Born stated “This was an inadvertent error. We do acknowledge that this puts the Committee over its special sources limit by $150.” On April 11, 2003, Ms. Born provided a copy of the letter returning $150 to a lobbyist, and a copy of the accompanying check.

3. Board records show that this is the first calendar year in which the Ruth (Connie) Volunteer Committee reported acceptance of contributions which exceeded the applicable aggregate contribution limit. The Ruth (Connie) Volunteer Committee registered with the Board on May 4, 2000.

4. The parties agree that the Ruth (Connie) Volunteer Committee accepted excessive contributions from special sources resulting in an inadvertent violation of Minn. Stat. §10A. 27, subd. 11, in calendar year 2002.

5. The Board imposes a civil penalty of $150, one times the amount by which the contributions exceeded the applicable limit, to be paid to the Board for deposit in the general fund of the state.

6. Representative Ruth hereby agrees to forward to the Board $150 by check or money order payable to the STATE OF MINNESOTA within 30 days after the date this Agreement is signed by the Board chair. It is agreed by the parties that the copies of the checks and the accompanying letters returning the contributions, payment of the civil penalty of $150, and this Conciliation Agreement will be a bar to any civil proceeding under Minn. Stat. §10A.28, subds. 3 & 4.

7. It is further understood and agreed, however, that if the civil penalty of $150 is not paid within the time specified in paragraph 6 above, then Representative Ruth will be personally liable to pay a civil penalty, under Minn. Stat. §§10A.28 and 10A.34, subd. 1, in an amount calculated as follows:

(a) $300 or two times the amount by which the contributions exceeded the statutory limit, if payment is received 30 to 60 days after the date this Agreement is signed by the Board Chair;

(b) $450 or three times the amount by which the contributions exceeded the statutory limit, if payment is received 61 to 90 days after the date this Agreement is signed by the Board Chair.

(c) $600 or four times the amount by which the contributions exceeded the statutory limit, if payment is received 91 to 120 days after the date this Agreement is signed by the Board Chair.

8. It is further understood that if the civil penalty is not paid as agreed, within the times specified in paragraphs 6 and 7 above, the Board will proceed to enforce the provisions of Minn. Stat. §10A.28, subd. 4.

9. It is further understood and agreed that this Agreement is confidential until signed by Representative Ruth and the Board Chair; the signed Agreement then shall become a matter of public record, and the statutory requirement of confidentiality shall no longer apply. Minn. Stat. §§10A.02, subd. 11 and 10A.28, subd. 3.

Dated: 5/6/03

Representative Connie Ruth

Approved by the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board

By Dated: 5/8/03

Clyde Miller, chair

Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board