LITTLE ROCK — A Sherwood alderman was fined $250 and issued two public letters of caution by the Arkansas Ethics Commission for failing to file a statement of financial interest in 2006 as well as failing to include all the necessary information in a 2004 filing.
Anna Marina Brooks was fined $100 and issued a public letter of caution by the commission on Sept. 11 for failing to file a timely statement of financial interest form for 2006 with the Sherwood city clerk's office, according to the letter of caution.
Brooks was fined an additional $150 and issued a second letter of caution earlier this month, when an Ethics Commission investigation, brought on by a citizen's complaint, found that Brooks had failed to include all of the necessary information on her 2004 filing, according to the letter.
Both forms now have been filed and corrected, said Brooks, who added that the 2004 form was the first form she had ever filed, and she didn't know how to file it correctly.
Regarding the 2006 filing,Brooks said her failure to file it was an oversight that occurred because she had undergone surgery at the first of the year when the form was due.
Doris Anderson, a Sherwood resident who filed the complaint, said she was satisfied with the Ethics Commission investigation and sanctions.
The Ethics Commission can issue fines between $50 to $2,000 per violation and three forms of reprimand in increasing severity - a letter of caution, a letter of warning or a letter of reprimand.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 10/30/2007