Reg Bowers, Peter Penashue's ex-agent, pleads guilty to election charges

Reg Bowers, formercampaign manager for former Labrador cabinet minister Peter Penashue,pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges laid this spring under the CanadaElections Act.

Bowers was in court inHappy Valley-Goose Bay Tuesday afternoon.

• Reg Bowers says election charge ordeal is 'tough going'
• Reg Bowers, Peter Penashue's agent, charged under Elections Act

Defence lawyer JeromeKennedy told CBC News his client has entered guilty pleads to two counts under the act. He had originally been charged with three counts.

As he was leaving the courthouse, Bowers told CBC News he is anxious to have the matter dealt with.

Penashue, aformer federal cabinet minister, is running as the Conservative candidate for the riding of Labrador in the Oct. 19 election.

Penashue resigned his seat in 2013 after allegations surfaced of irregularities inspending for his 2011 campaign.

Heran in a subsequentbyelection, which he lost to Liberal Yvonne Jones.

Penashue has blamed the problems with his 2011 campaign on what he described as the inexperience of his campaign manager.

Bowers, who is now a towncouncillorin Happy Valley-Goose Bay, was charged in May after a lengthy investigation launched after the lastfederal election.

Heis accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions and discounted airfares forPenashue's2011campaign, in his role as Penashue's agent.

In court Tuesday, Kennedy indicated that an agreed statement of facts was prepared.