The committee that worked to re-elect state Democratic Party chairman Javier Gonzales this year, plus two unsuccessful legislative candidates in last year's election, are facing hundreds of dollars in fines for not filing legally required campaign finance reports on time last month.

The Secretary of State's Office this week sent letters informing those who haven't filed their bi-annual reports — which were due Oct. 11 — that they owe $50 for each work day they don't file.

As of Thursday, the total was $850, said Ken Ortiz, chief of staff for the secretary of state. The maximum fine under the law is $5,000, Ortiz said.

Until a campaign or committee account is closed, reports are required under state law. That applies even to inactive campaigns and politicians who haven't run in years. For instance, former Gov. Bill Richardson — who hasn't run for state office since 2006 — filed a report last month. It showed he'd received more than $3,800 in contributions, spent more than $9,500 and had a balance of $34 as of the end of September.

Ortiz said his office also is working on drafting a letter to 40 to 50 candidates who have failed to file multiple reports going back years. Those letters should be sent next week, he said.

Gonzales defeated Albuquerque lawyer Sam Bregman and Santa Fe Democratic activist Letitia Montoya in a hotly contested contest for the party chairmanship in April. The last report the "Javier for Chair" committee filed in April said the group had a balance of $697.

Matt Ross, Gonzales' campaign manager in the chairman race, said Thursday that the missed report was an oversight. "We've been meaning to close that account," he said. "He's not running for any office." Ross said the report would be filed quickly.

The secretary of state last week mailed warning letters to about 40 candidates and several political action committees about missing the deadline for the reports. Gonzales' was the only committee that didn't respond, Ortiz said. All but three candidates responded and submitted their reports.

Two were legislative candidates — a Republican and a Democrat — from Albuquerque.

Democrat Matthew Archuleta, who lost to incumbent Eleanor Chavez in last June's Democratic primary, had more than $3,316 in the bank according to his most recent report filed earlier this year. Archuleta was criticized in the campaign by fellow Democrats for accepting a $4,000 contribution from a Republican committee, New Mexico Turn Around.

Republican Jennifer Thornburg lost in last year's general election to Democratic incumbent Danice Picraux. Her most recent report showed a balance of $202. There's more than $10,000 in outstanding loans in the report, but it's all money that she loaned her campaign.

The third candidate not to file is second-term Lea County Sheriff Rod Coffman, a Hobbs Republican. However, his most recent report showed a zero balance. Ortiz said that Coffman wouldn't have to pay a fine if he simply closes his account.

In non-election years, candidates and political committees are required to file campaign finance reports twice a year — once in April and again in October. In election years the required filings are more frequent.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com.