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Dennis Rasmussen
Lobbyist |
Employer |
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On the 11th day of October 2006, between Dennis Rasmussen, lobbyist, and Suzanne S. Fox, Executive Director of the State Ethics Commission, acting on behalf of Staff Counsel, agree as follows:
The
State Ethics Commission (“Commission”) is an executive agency of the State of
Maryland established for the purpose of enforcing the Maryland Public Ethics
Law (Title 15, State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland,
hereinafter “the Ethics Law”), specifically subtitle 7, the lobbying disclosure
program;
Dennis Rasmussen (“filer”) is an
individual whose lobbying activities on behalf of MEI Properties Inc..
(“employer”) during the period of January 1 through April 30, 2006, required
him to register as a lobbyist with the State Ethics Commission;
The filer did not timely register on behalf of the employer,
as required by State Government Article, Section 15-703(d)(1)(Supp. 2005);
The filer subsequently registered on September 11, 2006, for
the period January 1 through April 30, 2006.
The Respondent is voluntarily entering into this Lobbyist
Filing Agreement to admit his failure to timely file the registration with the
Commission and to pay a sum of money in lieu of potential late filing fees and
other fines pursuant to Section 14-405 of the Public Ethics Law;
IN CONSIDERATION of the submission of the required lobbying
registration statement by the filer on September 11, 2006, and the admissions
and agreement in this Agreement, the filer and Executive Director, on behalf of
Staff Counsel, agree as follows:
1.
The
filer did not timely file his lobbyist registration on behalf of the employer
for the period January 1, 2006 through April 30, 2006, as required by State
Government Article, Section 15-703(d)(1) of the Ethics Law;
2.
On
May 31, 2006, in his Lobbyist Activity Report, the filer reported his
delinquency to the Commission and on September 11, 2006, he filed the
delinquent registration statement (a copy of which has been attached to and
made a part of this agreement);
3.
The
filer understands that failure to comply with the lobbying disclosure
provisions of the Public Ethics Law can subject him to a formal complaint by
the Commission and upon a finding of a violation the possibility of late fees,
civil fines, reprimand or a suspension of his ability to lobby for
compensation;
4.
Based
on the facts stated in this agreement, the filer agrees to pay as settlement of
the late filing matter, the amount of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) at
the time of execution of this agreement in lieu of potential late fees and
other fines for the admitted late filing of the lobbying registration for this
employer;
5.
The
Executive Director, on behalf of Staff Counsel, will, upon execution by the
filer of this Late Filing Agreement recommend that the Commission not institute
any proceedings on his failure to timely register. The filer understands that the Commission is under no obligation
to accept this Agreement and may decide to take other action including the
issuance of a complaint;
6.
The
filer understands a copy of this Agreement will be mailed to his employer; and
7.
The
filer and the Executive Director, on behalf of Staff Counsel, have entered into
this Agreement for the sole purpose of resolving the late submission of the
lobbying registration statement and for the payment of late fees and other
files and for no other purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
Dennis Rasmussen, filer, and Suzanne S. Fox, Executive Director on behalf of
Staff Counsel for the State Ethics Commission, have signed below.
Dated this 11th day of October, 2006
____________________________________ __________/s/_______________________
Lobbyist Executive
Director on behalf of Staff Counsel
State
Ethics Commission
45
Calvert Street, Third Floor
Annapolis,
Maryland 21401
(410)
260-7770
State
of Maryland,
County
of:______________________, to wit:
Before
me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State and County aforesaid,
personally appeared Dennis Rasmussen, lobbyist, who made oath on this day of ________________, 2006 in due form of law that she executed
this agreement for the purposes set forth herein.
_____________________________
Notary Public
My
Commission Expires:
_____________________
---------------
State of ____________
County of ____________, to wit:
Before
me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State and County aforesaid,
personally appeared Suzanne S. Fox, Executive Director on behalf of Staff
Counsel, who made oath on this __________the day of _______________, 2006 in
due form of law that matters and facts hereinabove set forth are true to the
best of his knowledge, information and belief, and are his voluntary act and
that he executed this document for the purposes set forth herein.
___________________________
Notary
Public
My Commission expires:
______________________
Accepted by the Commission
_____________/s/________________
Julian L. Lapides, Chairperson
for the Commission
Date: November
2, 2006