Councilman Settles Ethics Probe

A Mount Pleasant Town Councilman, accused of violating state ethics rules for improper handling of campaign funds, has been issued a warning and the matter is now settled, according to state records.

Councilman Ken Glasson faced an ethics probe for improperly spending campaign funds on gas and meals as well as charges that he didn't set up a campaign checking account immediately after receiving campaign donations. Read the original complaint.

In a signed consent order, Glasson admits to the violations, but says he didn't properly understand how his campaign should reimburse him for gas and meal expenditures. He also admits that he should have set up the checking account more quickly.

Glasson paid a $100 fee and reimbursed his campaign. The commission issued the councilman warning, according to the consent order.

"The State Ethics Commission hereby issues this written warning to Kenneth T. Glasson for his violation... and orders that (he) be diligent in complying with the campaign practices of the Ethics Reform Act if he continues to be involved in future campaigns," the order reads.

Glasson was re-elected to his second term on the council in November 2011. He was in a for the at-large position. He was the behind Thomasena Stokes-Marshall, the council's longest-serving member.

Former councilman Joe Bustos, who was also on the council ballot in November, reported Glasson for a long list of campaign violations, but only the checking account and campaign expense charges were substantiated.

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