Rep. Walt Blackman faces ballot challenge over $168,000 in unpaid Az campaign finance fines

Republican Rep. Walt Blackman is
facing an election challenge from a former political rival who says the
northern Arizona Republican should be disqualified from seeking
reelection because he owes the state more than $168,000 in fines and
penalties for late campaign finance filings. 

Steve Slaton, who owns the Trumped Store in Show Low, a popular campaign spot for the MAGA faithful, filed the election challenge lawsuit last week.

Slaton had previously ran against
Blackman in the GOP primary for the same seat in 2024, with both men
touting their military service. During the campaign, it was revealed
that Slaton had falsely claimed to be a Vietnam veteran. Reporting found that he allegedly altered his DD214,
a document given to veterans upon their retirement that includes a
record of their service and awards, to show service in Vietnam. In reality,
Slaton was stationed in Korea between January and December 1974 as a
helicopter repairman and he was never deployed in Vietnam. 

Last year, Blackman introduced legislation to impose criminal penalties
against those who make false military service claims. Over the
objections of Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, who serves in the same
district as Blackman but supported Slaton in the primary, the bill was
eventually signed into law. 

Blackman is also suing Slaton for defamation, alleging that he falsely claimed Blackman had not received a Bronze Star. 

Slaton’s candidate challenge claims
that Blackman should be disqualified from being on the ballot in the
July 21 primary election because he has over $168,000 in unpaid fines
and penalties because he failed to file campaign finance reports for
years, beginning in 2020. 

The Arizona Secretary of State’s
Office said it could not comment on a pending election challenge and did
not respond to multiple requests to confirm if the penalties and fines
listed were accurate.

Blackman blamed the fines on an “administrative error” and said he was confident he would survive the legal challenge.

“I am aware of the claims made by Mr.
Slaton, and I want to be clear: this issue stems from an administrative
error dating back to 2020, during a time when Arizona’s election
systems were under significant strain due to historic turnout and
increased processing demands,” Blackman said in a statement to the
Arizona Mirror. “I remain confident in the integrity of my campaign and
that this matter will be resolved based on the full context of 2020 — a
period marked by administrative strain, documented delays, and
processing issues — during which my campaign acted in good faith and
complied with all reporting requirements.” 

Blackman also noted that
“election-related challenges like this are not uncommon in competitive
races and are often used as political tools.” 

When asked if he had begun paying the
fines or was in the process of appealing them, Blackman said that was a
question for his legal counsel. He did not say who his attorney is, and
did not respond to follow-up questions about his campaign finance
reports or the identity of his attorney. 

Arizona law states that a candidate’s
nomination papers cannot be accepted if they have $1,000 or more in
“fines, penalties, late fees or administrative or civil judgements,
including any interest or costs, in any combination” have not been
satisfied by the time the nomination papers are filed. There is an
exception if the fines, fees or penalties are being appealed.

The Arizona Secretary of State’s
Office did not respond to repeated requests asking why it accepted
Blackman’s signatures given the outstanding fines and penalties, or if
Blackman was in the process of appealing or paying off the debts. 

“[T]he evidence establishes that by
Violating (sic) Arizona Campaign Laws he is not qualified for the
Republican Party Primary Ballot 2026,” Slaton wrote in his suit asking
for Fontes to prohibit Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes from
placing him on the ballot. 

A review of campaign finance data
shows that Blackman has a number of penalties from his suspended
“Committee to Elect Walt Blackman,” which operated from 2018 until
January of this year. 

From April 15, 2022 to January 15,
2026, the committee has not filed a report. The April report for the
first quarter of 2022 is 1,442 days late with over $35,000 in fines
listed as being “due.” 

The total amount of fines listed for that committee as being due is $160,425. The committee is now listed as “suspended.”

Blackman’s current legislative committee also lists $200 in fines due for failing to file campaign finance reports on time.