NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Aubry Wilhoite has learned a tough lesson about democracy.
He faces a $1,000 fine from the Tennessee Ethics Commission after he wrote in his name in a race for the Bedford County Commission.
Wilhoite, 58, is a substitute teacher who lives in a modest apartment outside Shelbyville.
His problems started after early voting in the Bedford County commissioner's race last April.
He noticed no one running in the primary, so he wrote in his own name.
"It was just a whim," Wilhoite said. "I said I'll write my name in and see if it goes up the flag pole."
When he told a election worker what he'd done, the worker suggested he fill out a brief write-In candidate form - for his vote to count.
Wilhoite thought nothing of it, but he didn't realize that the form made him an official candidate in the general election for Bedford County commissioner.
NewsChannel 5 Investigates asked, "Did you make any campaign signs or anything like that?"
Wilhoite said, "No."
And when the general election came around, Wilhoite actually voted for someone else.
NewsChannel 5 Investigates asked, "You didn't even vote for yourself?"
Wilhoite said, "No."
He said that his best friend's brother was running and he thought he'd do a great job.
Wilhoite received zero votes, but beginning in the summer he started getting what he calls "threatening" letters from the Tennessee Ethics Commission.
They demanded that he turn in what was called a "statement of interest."
"I'm not exactly sure what they want," Wilhoite said. "A statement of interest? So I gave them a statement of interest, but it was why I was running for the seat."
He sent a handwritten letter stating he hoped to build a bus shelter for the kids in his complex who often wait for school in the rain.
"That was my interest in it, and evidently that was not the answer to the question," Wilhoite added.
In December, he received an order from the Ethics Commission stating he had been fined $1,000.
"There's a $10,000 ceiling on these fines," Wilhoite said. "They gave me a thousand. This will morph into $10,000 and they will take my driver's license away."
The executive director of Tennessee Bureau of Ethics, Drew Rawlings, said Wilhoite should have realized the board wanted his financial information -- not his reason for running.
"The board looked at his letter and he really hasn't explained why he hasn't filed a statement of interest, so that's why they assessed a $1,000 civil penalty," Rawlins said.
Rawlins said Wilhoite had ample time to comply.
State law requires all candidates for state and local office to list where they work and where they get their money. The commission received nearly 13,000 forms last year.
"They're filed so the public can see them, so they can determine if they want to vote for a candidate or not," Rawlins said.
While Wilhoite's fine is currently $1,000, more powerful corporations and lobbyist often get off easier.
When Red Bull failed to register its lobbyist last year, they got a lesser fine.
"Red Bull was assessed $750 in that case, which was the maximum amount," Rawlins said.
And the commission decided on no fine for lobbyist Tom Ingram, who advises Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, or Ingram's firm -- for failing to register that it represented a coal company for at least two straight years.
Ingram's lawyer told the board it was simply a mistake.
The commission told Wilhoite to appear at its December meeting, but he worried his car wouldn't make it to Nashville.
"Maybe we work something out when I get my car fixed, and I'll drive up to Nashville to talk to them," Wilhoite said.
In the meantime, he's on the hook for a $1,000.
The commission's order states that Wilhoite's fine became final last month.
However, Rawlins told NewsChannel 5 Investigates the commission may still reduce or reverse its decision if Wilhoite turns in the paperwork.
