AUGUSTA — The Maine ethics commission today fined a South Portland Republican $1,750 for six campaign finance violations that date back to last spring.

In addition, Joe Palmieri is required to repay $925.72 in unused public finance money and for two overpayments.

Palmieri, who narrowly lost to former Sen. Larry Bliss, D-South Portland, in November’s general election, told the five-member panel that an inexperienced campaign volunteer and his own first time run for office led to the mistakes.

“There was never, ever any intention for me to take something that wasn’t mine,” he said. “Whatever we did wrong, I’m not disputing that at all.”

Ethics commission Executive Director Jonathan Wayne said Palmieri reported seven expenditures totaling $850 last spring, but that an ethics commission auditor could find no evidence that the purchases were made. Palmieri said his deputy treasurer filled out the wrong form and reported expenditures instead of outstanding campaign debts.

As a result of the misreported information, Palmieri received more than $850 in public campaign finance money that he should not have received, Wayne said.