St. Paul lawmaker ordered to pay state $4,700

A Democratic legislator from St. Paul has been ordered to pay the state more than $4,700 in penalties over irregularities in his 2006 and 2008 campaign finances.

Fourth-term Rep. Cy Thao was found to have paid friends and relatives excessive amounts for services out of his campaign funds. Wednesday's ruling from the campaign finance board requires him to repay more than $1,700 in public subsidies and hit him with a $3,000 civil penalty.

The complaint questioned Thao's deals for lawn signs, office space and campaign literature. Board documents say some rental money went to a corporation Thao and his wife own.

Thao says he's contemplating appeal options. He says he doesn't agree with the contention that he overpaid people for work they performed.

Thao, who is Hmong, says he may ask for a probe into whether the initial complaint was racially motivated.