Associated Press Published

Raleigh Assessor, Harrison Commissioner Face Ethics Fines

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Two county officials face fines for state ethics violations.

The Ethics Commission announced actions Thursday against Raleigh County Assessor Drema Bias-Evans and Harrison County Commissioner Bernie Fazzini.

Bias-Evans is fined $7,500 for interviewing and recommending her son for a job in 2010. The order says she gave her son and grandson raises more often than some other office employees.

Bias-Evans can’t oversee employment decisions and supervision for her son and grandson.

It says she let employees travel to and from Beckley and Charleston in county cars to get Christmas gifts for children of unemployed Raleigh County coal miners.

Fazzini is fined $3,500 after twice requesting the same $3,100 reimbursement for a Portland work trip. He already returned $3,100.

He must repay $300 for reimbursed personal costs and other reimbursement errors.