Oregon Public Broadcasting

Investigators with Oregon's Secretary of State's office say that Sid Leiken's Congressional campaign violated state campaign finance laws because of payments made to a marketing company owned by Leiken's mother. 

Leiken, who's the mayor of Springfield, is running to challenge 4th District Congressman Peter Defazio next year. 

Don Hamilton is a spokesman for Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown.  He says allegations surfaced in June about a telephone survey paid for by Leiken's campaign.

Don Hamilton   "The investigators were trying to get Mayor Leiken to substantiate evidence of a poll that he said cost two-thousand dollars to his campaign finance committee. But repeated efforts were unable to find any evidence of the poll, any details of the poll."

The Elections Division says Leiken must pay a fine of $2,250.

$2000 of that represents money that appears to have been converted for personal use. The remaining $250 is a penalty for the violation.

Leiken could not be reached, but his campaign has indicated to the Register Guard he will not challenge the fine.