AUGUSTA – Marc Cenci, chairman of the Maine Libertarian Party, admitted Wednesday that he has the “worst track record” of any politician for filing campaign expense forms required by the Ethics Commission. But, he told the commission Wednesday, he has no intention of paying a $162.20 fine levied against him.

The fine was the result of a “vendetta” against him and his party, Cenci said.

The Ethics Commission reported Wednesday that if Cenci does not pay the fine within 30 days, the case will be referred to the state attorney general, along with other cases of unpaid fines for possible civil court action.

Cenci admitted that he was two days late when he filed his campaign finance report on Dec. 21. Commission officials noted it was the fourth violation by the Libertarian Party head and voted to fine him $162.20.

The Libertarian Party official said his past late filings indicate no lack of respect for the commission or its regulations. As a wastewater specialist working on septic systems he is used to rules and regulations and attributed his problems to being “incapable of bookkeeping” along with “confusion” with the commission requirements.

He admitted that he provided poor guidance to the party’s 11 candidates during the last election, but said it would be more “cost-effective” for the commission to instruct him on proper procedures and develop a simpler candidate’s guide to filing requirements than to issue a fine “just to make an example of me.”

After the meeting, Cenci said he wants to take the case to court. “I want to take it to a judge who won’t have a personal vendetta. I think I was treated shabbily by the commission. You give some people a hammer and everything looks like a nail,” said the party chairman. The Libertarian Party claims a membership of 220.

Commission members expressed little sympathy for Cenci’s problems. Member Linda Cronkhite said, “You should have learned after the first violation.” She said after being assessed a $45 late payment fee on a credit card, most people figure out a way to comply with future payments, to avoid further penalties.

After the Cenci hearing, commission Chairman Peter B. Webster asked for a comprehensive report on all unpaid fines for the March meeting “with particular scrutiny to Cenci.” Commission officials said Rep. Zachary D. Matthews, D-Winslow, and Rep. Joseph C. Perry, D-Bangor, have longstanding unpaid fines. The commission postponed until March a decision on 34 violations by the Maine Republican Party in House and Senate races. The violations carry a potential fine of $170,000 for failure to report expenditures in the 2000 elections. The Republican Party has argued that the campaign activities do not fall under guidelines that require campaign reports. Democrats have alleged that the unreported expenditures deprived other candidates running under the Clean Elections Act from getting additional funds.

The commission also issued late filing fines to:

Rep. Jane W. Saxl, D-Bangor, $25.66, one day late.

Sen. Neria Douglass, D-Auburn, $42.56, one day late.

Sen. Betheda Edmonds, D-Freeport, $340.95, 15 days late.

Russell Libby, lobbyist for the Maine Organic Farmers Association, $100, four days late.

Michelle A. MacLean, lobbyist for Champion International and other firms, $250, three days late.

Douglas P. Denico, lobbyist for Plum Tree Timber Co., $50, 13 days late.

Susan Dore, lobbyist for Maine Credit League, $50, 20 days late.

Everard B. Stevens, lobbyist for Commercial Union York Insurance Co. $100, 14 days late.