Columbia state representative fined for 2022 campaign ads

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -

The Missouri Ethics Commission fined a Columbia state representative for not clarifying who paid for a campaign ad.

The commission finalized an order with 50th District Rep. Doug Mann (D-Columbia) on Oct. 16. Mann admitted that ads supporting his campaign did not have the necessary disclaimer that his campaign committee paid for its appearance.

The consent order said the ads appeared in a "monthly coupon/advertisement book" during the primary campaign in Aug. 2022. The order said those ads did not have the "clear and conspicuous statement" on who paid for the ads like state law requires.

The commission fined Mann and his committee $100 for the violation. Mann told ABC 17 that he has mailed the check to the MEC.

"My campaign did fail to ensure that the proper paid for language was included in an advertisement we took out during the 2022 campaign," Mann said. "It is important that public officials are transparent and own up to their mistakes. That is why I chose to settle with the MEC."

Mann ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination in 2022. He beat Republican James Musgraves that November with 55 percent of the vote. The district covers much of south Columbia.