In the 2014 election, not all campaign finance documents are equal. 

Missing financial data from local Democratic candidate filing forms are leaving some Dallas County officials questioning if qualifying fees were unfairly waived or incorrectly reported.

Three incumbent candidates for local office — Sheriff Harris Huffman, tax collector Tammy King and tax assessor Weida Sheehan — list qualifying fees on their financial filing forms. Huffman’s forms list Jan. 13 as the date he paid qualifying fees. Sheehan lists Jan. 23 on her forms. King also lists Jan. 23 on her financial forms.

The remaining five Democrat candidates for local office don’t list any qualifying fees on financial forms.

After reviewing the forms, Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard and some of the incumbents questioned whether the Dallas County Democratic Party waived fees for the candidates.

“None of the reports indicate that they turned in a qualifying fee,” Ballard said. “It certainly would not be fair to waive anybody’s fee unless all of the candidates fees are waived.”

According to the Alabama Democratic Party’s bylaws, qualifying fees equal 2 percent of the position’s salary. For example, the candidates for sheriff are required to pay $1,300. Fees can be waived, according to the party’s bylaws. Though the process requires a written declaration that the candidate is unable to pay and a petition signed by one fourth of 1 percent of the voters registered in the area represented by the position.

The fees can be used for a number of purposes, according to Dallas County Democratic Party chairwoman Ozetta Thomas. Though the fees cannot be used to support or contribute to the campaign of a candidate.

“There were definitely no fees waived and, in fact, there have never been any fees waived in my time as chair,” Thomas said.

Thomas explained that incumbents are required to maintain a campaign committee and continually file financial reports, according to state law. Challengers are not required to set up a campaign committee until five days after qualifying, according to state law. Challengers also aren’t required to submit financial documents until after reaching a certain contribution or expenditure threshold.

“New candidates haven’t set up an account and wouldn’t be required to list their qualifying fee,” Thomas said. “After qualification, then they would have to report any expenditures.”

After being asked about the discrepancy, Thomas used two documents as evidence that all candidates had paid the necessary fees.

The first document Thomas used as evidence was a handwritten list of candidates in the order paid. On the sheet, it shows all Democrats for local office as having paid qualifying fees, including candidates for the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee. Candidates for tax collector and tax assessor paid $1,027.22. Candidates for sheriff paid $1,300. Selma High football coach Leroy Miles paid $144 for the District 5 school board race. William Alan Dailey paid $190.56 for the Dallas County Coroner’s race.

The second document was a bank deposit slip that matched to total amount listed on the handwritten list.

Thomas instructed all candidates, running as Democrats, to ammend financial reports to show qualifying fees after learning of Ballard’s questions.

“Candidates aren’t required to list [qualifying fees, but I asked them to ammend reports for transparency,” Thomas said. “Not listing the fees wouldn’t disqualify them.”