Springfield (KMTR) - Springfield mayor and congressional candidate Sid Leiken offered an emotional apology late Friday afternoon, admitting a mistake in his handling of campaign funds.
It is the result of an investigation by the Oregon Elections Division into campaign fund irregularities.
Leiken is seeking the Republican nomination to run for Democratic Congressman Peter DeFazio’s Fourth District seat.
At issue is a $2,000 payment from Leiken's mayoral campaign committee to a polling firm which is not registered to do business in Oregon. The firm is owned by Leiken's mother.
Leiken apologized to his family and supporters, saying he had made an “error in judgment” in the way he documented the transaction. He said he has paid the $2,000 back to the "Friends of Sid Leiken" mayoral campaign committee.
As part of their investigation, the state requested documentation from the mayor's mother, Glenda Leiken with a deadline of August 12th. She recently was given a two-week extension.
On Friday, NewsSource 16 received a copy of a letter she sent to the Oregon Secretary of State's office. In the letter, she said she has no other documentation to present. She says there was no contract between her son and herself, and the transaction was made in cash. She also said she is no longer interested in establishing a business or conducting polls for political action committees.
