A total of 32 candidates for state and local offices have yet to file required financial disclosure statements with the state Ethics Commission, commission records show.
That includes two candidates for state Senate and nine candidates for House of Delegates.
Under state law, candidates for state and local offices are required to file the four-page financial disclosure forms with the commission within 10 days of filing their certificates of candidacy.
Failure to file is a misdemeanor, punishable by fines of $100 to $1,000, although it appears the Ethics Commission has never pursued charges against candidates for failing to file.
With more than 1,500 candidates on state and local primary ballots, the 32 represent a small minority, and Ellen Briggs, executive assistant for the commission, said candidates sometimes confuse the Ethics' disclosure - which lists the candidate's personal financial information - with campaign finance disclosures, filed with the secretary of state's office.
Senate candidates who have not filed are James Clawson of Marion County, running in the 13th District Republican primary, and Franklin Delano Cornette II of Lewis County, running in the 12th District Republican primary.
Two House candidates from Kanawha County have not filed: Democrat Janet Thompson, running in the 37th District, and Republican David Bender, running in the 38th.
In a related matter, 2nd Congressional District Democratic candidate Mark Hunt has been cited by the Federal Election Commission for failing to file a pre-primary financial disclosure report, which was due April 28.
Reach Phil Kabler at philk@wvgazettemail.com, 304 348-1220, or follow @PhilKabler on Twitter.