JEFFERSON CITY — An administrative law judge shot down state ethics regulators Monday in a case against a former Wildwood city council member.
Stephens had placed campaign signs on the truck, but said his company had nothing to do with his campaign. He appealed the MEC decision.
In a ruling issued Monday, Renee Slusher of the Administrative Hearing Commission said the Missouri Ethics Commission failed to provide enough proof that Stephens had violated the law.
Slusher wrote that the MEC did not supply any information indicating that the company was aware of the campaign signs or had a policy for or against the use of campaign signs on its vehicles.
Stephens represented Ward 8 in the west St. Louis County community.
When finalized, the ruling is expected to erase the fine he was required to pay to the MEC.