The state Ethics Commission removed two public officials from office and recommended three others be removed in a meeting this morning.

The five appointees, plus nine others, were also fined $250 each for failure to turn in a financial disclosure form required under a state law that went into effect Jan. 1.

The board made some allowances for people who resigned from office promptly rather than turn in the forms, which are more extensive than in years past. But commissioners warned that they were only being lenient becaus the law is new.

"I'm not going to be inclined to do that next time," said commissioner Jane Finch.

Former state Sen. Jerry Blackmon, a new appointee on the commission, said he was leery of fining unpaid volunteers on local boards.

The board waived fines for six officials and ordered further investigation of one other.

A complete list of board decisions after the jump.

Correction: An earlier version of this post and its headline did not include actions taken on appointees who filed late. There were 20 fines levied.

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