The Missouri Republican Party and two of its candidates from the 1998 election have agreed to pay $70,000 to settle a dispute with the State Ethics Commission. The commission charged the party had violated the state campaign contribution limits by donating $182,000 above the limits to State Auditor candidate Chuck Pierce and State Senate candidate Eric Zahnd. Pierce and Zahnd have each agreed to pay the state $5,000. The State Republican Party will pay its $60,000 in installments. A spokesman for the party says the settlement doesn’t admit guilt, but if the financially prudent thing to do.
