VIDALIA — Vidalia Alderwoman Mo Saunders was disqualified Monday as a candidate for re-election.

“I still love my city,” Saunders said Tuesday. “I always have, since I was a little girl. I have no regrets, no shame. I love the mayor and the ones on the board of alderman, and I love the residents of Vidalia.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the Louisiana Board of Ethics, which appealed an earlier decision by Judge John Reeves to allow Saunders to run.

The ethics board’s objection to Saunders’ candidacy involved the false certification of Saunders’ qualification papers stating that at the time she qualified for re-election, she did not owe any outstanding fees or penalties to the state.

Saunders in fact owes an outstanding fine that had been levied against her after she filed an annual financial disclosure report late for 2013. She had made a payment on the $1,500 fine, but had not completely paid it.

Reeves’ ruling last week was to allow Saunders to run provided she paid all outstanding fines and fees within three days of the ruling.

In the judgment, the appeals court agreed that in order to abide by the law, Saunders must be disqualified.

In a concurring opinion, Judge John D. Saunders, however, noted that while higher offices in the state have staff, accountants or attorneys that handle these matters, elected officials in smaller communities do not have access to such resources.

“In these circumstances, the requirements can be challenging and onerous, and, in some circumstances, a real hardship,” Judge Saunders said. “Nevertheless, the Legislature has seen fit to impose the same requirements on these officials as those of the more high-profile category.”

Judge Saunders also noted the $1,500 fine levied against Alderwoman Saunders may be considered harsh given she is an official from a small community that is paid little for her service.

“It is easy to argue the disposition by (Reeves) to allow the candidate to run upon payment of the outstanding balance seems equitable, fair, reasonable, and that it achieves the purposes mandated by the Legislature,” Judge Saunders said.

Even with those considerations, Saunders wrote in the judgment, the court must enforce the law.

“We may, at least, hope that the Legislature, in the foreseeable future, will revisit this most awkward statutory mandate,” the judge wrote.

Mo Saunders said she had full confidence that by making payments on her fine, she was in the clear to run for office.

“I should have known better, but I didn’t realize it,” Mo Saunders said. “I thought that in making the payments, I was OK, but I wasn’t, and had I known, I would have never signed that piece of paper.”

Saunders said she is at peace with the decision and is proud she has been able to serve Vidalia for 18 years.

Saunders said she is thankful for the support she received during the challenge to her candidacy.

“It’s amazing how much support I’ve had in all this, how many people not even in my district have called me and supported me,” she said. “If I found out anything in all this, it was how many people looked up to me and cared about me. That’s been amazing to see.”

Saunders said she plans to remain involved in the community.

“I just won’t be an alderman, but I’ll still be involved,” she said. “I re-dedicated my life about six months ago, and I feel like God has a new avenue for me to go forward.”

Saunders also said she wishes the best of luck to the remaining candidates in the Vidalia District 3 race in which three aldermen will be elected.

Candidates in the race are incumbent Jon D. Betts, Sabrina Dore, Richard S. “Ricky” Knapp and “Tommy” Probst.

The election is scheduled for March 5.