LANCASTER : Ex-Councilman Fined $16,000 by State Panel

The state Fair Political Practices Commission has voted to impose a $16,000 fine on former Lancaster City Councilman William Pursley for three conflict-of-interest violations and numerous failures to disclose his economic interests.

The 5 to 0 decision ends a two-year investigation of Pursley by the state’s political watchdog agency. It marks the first time that the FPPC has fined a current or former Lancaster council member in the city’s nearly 15-year history.

Pursley, 64, a real estate agent who in April did not seek reelection after three years on the council, has accepted the FPPC’s fine and admitted to 10 administrative counts of violating the state’s Political Reform Act. Seven counts involved failure to disclose 48 items on his 1989 statement of economic interests. Three counts involved conflicts of interest in his council votes. Throughout the inquiry, Pursley maintained that he did not intend to violate the law but was careless in his legal obligations.