Associated Press Published

West Virginia Ethics Commission Fines Marmet Mayor $2,000

Ethics Commission

The West Virginia Ethics Commission has fined the mayor of Marmet $2,000.

The commission announced the fine and public reprimand Thursday against Mayor Bill Pauley. In an agreement with the commission, Pauley admitted using his office for private gain.

He admitted that after a voters’ registration deadline has passed in 2013, he drove people to the Marmet Town Hall to vote early in the town’s 2013 general election despite knowing they either weren’t properly registered or weren’t residents of the town.

He also admitted instructing Marmet poll workers to accept the ineligible voters’ votes.

The commission dismissed a separate complaint alleging Pauley asked the town’s computer and software vendor to generate a check reimbursing him for work during town bingo games.