The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure board has found that the Republican Party of Minnesota is responsible for nearly $600,000 in debts accrued during the 2010 gubernatorial recount and has fined the party $27,000 and former party Chairman Tony Sutton $3,000 for failure to properly report to the board.

Political watchers waiting for a firm ruling on the months-long debate over whether the Republican Party of Minnesota is responsible for 2010 gubernatorial recount debt might still be seeking answers after a key campaign finance board meeting next week.

In January, Common Cause Minnesota filed a complaint with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board accusing the state Republican Party of repeatedly failing to properly report expenses and contributions.

This summer Minnesota’s campaign finance agency will make its way through a couple of pending challenges brought by a watchdog group that’s taking a number of Republican-centered causes to task.

The race for Republican National Committeewoman at the state Republican Party convention this weekend is not exactly the most-watched political contest of the year.

A financial report released by the Republican Party of Minnesota on Monday found that there was no theft or illegal activity by former party officers but did point to a pattern of fiscal mismanagement that has left the party about $2 million in debt.

A financial report released by the Republican Party of Minnesota on Monday afternoon found that there was no theft or illegal activity by former party officers or former state Chairman Tony Sutton, but did point to a pattern of fiscal mismanagement and “questionable decision-making” that has left the party more than $1 million in debt.

Massachusetts-based Hub Properties Trust filed paperwork in Ramsey County on Wednesday to evict the debt-ridden Republican Party for failing to pay more than $96,000 in rent over the last year.

Minnesota Republicans started the 2011 session having conquered titans. In the Legislature, GOP lawmakers had made a historic 54-seat gain in the House and Senate that fall, a swing that handed them majorities in both chambers for the first time in 38 years.

Minnesota's chapter of Common Cause and Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington have brought complaints over the GOP finances