The issue of Woolwich Township Mayor Sandy Shantz’s 2014 campaign expenses was back in court for a brief period of time Thursday.
Shantz was removed from the mayor’s position for two weeks in July as the matter of her expenses came before the courts.
She had not filed an audit of her campaign expenses by the legal deadline to do so, because her claimed donation total fell below the threshold required to do so.
Not included in those financial statements were $2,600 that she contributed to her own campaign and never spent.
With the extra $2,600, her total donation level was past the threshold.
A justice of the peace found that removal from office – the only legally prescribed penalty for campaign expense filing violations – was too harsh a punishment for Shantz’s actions, and she was returned to the mayor’s chair.
That July action was launched by Elmira resident Alan Marshall, who was also behind the new charges that brought the case to court Thursday.
Marshall alleges that Shantz made a number of mistakes with her campaign spending, including accepting a contribution higher than the $750 limit.
“Quite frankly, every statement she files (has) more expenses, more donations,” he said in an interview.
“I am wondering when it is going to end.”
He wants to see a formal forensic audit conducted into Shantz’s expenses.
Shantz did not appear in court Thursday. She was represented by lawyer Randall Martin.
In an interview with CTV News, Martin said that he did not expect the court process to be lengthy.
“I suspect it’s already been dealt with and won’t need to be dealt with again,” he said.
The case returns to court later this month.
