The State - News from June 9, 1988

The state Fair Political Practices Commission has fined Democrat Lia Belli $75,000 for campaign reporting violations in her unsuccessful 1984 bid to unseat veteran Sen. Milton Marks. The commission said that Belli, wife of attorney Melvin Belli, concealed $85,000 in contributions from herself to her election committee. The contributions were improperly reported as being made by her mother and a friend, the commission said. Under the state Political Reform Act, contributions totaling $1,000 in the final 16 days of the election must be disclosed within 25 hours on late contributions statements. But the commission said that Belli failed to disclose late donations, including $180,000 from herself and another $25,000 from two others. The commission also cited Belli for failing to disclose an in-kind contribution of $25,000 from her husband.