Watts, Roberts fined by FEC

Tuesday, December 16th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ The Federal Election Commission has found violations in the congressional campaigns of Democrat Darryl Roberts and Republican J.C. Watts and has levied fines.

Roberts' 2002 campaign was fined $5,650 for not filing so-called 48-hour reports covering contributions that came in after the filing deadline for the general election.

Roberts was the Democratic nominee for an open seat that year in Oklahoma's 4th District. The post was won by Republican Rep. Tom Cole.

A report filed in October for the 2002 race listed $31,358 cash on hand as well as $68,802 in debts owed by the campaign.

The FEC levied a $4,225 fine against the campaign of former Republican Rep. J.C. Watts for failing to file its quarterly report in October 2002 on time.

Several months earlier, Watts had announced that he would not run for re-election, but the FEC requires routine reports to be filed as long as campaign accounts remain active.

FEC records indicate that Watts' campaign filed a termination report in May 2003.