45th Legislative District Democrats - Exempt: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.205(5) and WAC 390-16-011A by failing to include its sponsor's name in the committee's name. (EY '21; Dec '21) | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)

Case

#102360

Respondent

45th Legislative District Democrats - Exempt

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint filed on December 30, 2021. The complaint alleged that 45th Legislative District Democrats - Exempt, a bona fide legislative district party committee, may have violated RCW 42.17A.205(5) and WAC 390-16-011A by failing to include its sponsor's name in the committee's name.

PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the response provided by Committee Treasurer Christine Ackerman on behalf of the Respondent; the applicable PDC reports filed by the Respondent; and queried the Respondent’s data in the PDC contribution and expenditure database, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

It appears that the exclusion of the Committee sponsor, Eastside Democrats Dinner PAC in the name of the Committee was unintentional and not meant to purposely deceive the public of the Committee’s major funding source. Further, the contribution in question was timely disclosed and thus available to the public.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to timely file an amended committee registration and campaign reports to include the name of the person sponsoring the Committee, does not amount to a finding of a violation that warrants further investigation.

Pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), however, 45th Legislative District Democrats will receive a formal written warning concerning failure to timely disclose its sponsor's name in the committee's name on the C-1pc, C-3 and C-4 reports. The formal written warning will include staff’s expectation that 45th Legislative District Democrats timely files all future required reports of contributions and expenditures and amends its registration as applicable. The Commission will consider the formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action if there are future violations of PDC laws or rules.

Based on this information, the PDC finds that no further action is warranted and has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

January 11, 2022

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.205, WAC 390-16-011

45th Legislative District Democrats - Exempt: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.205(5) and WAC 390-16-011A by failing to include its sponsor's name in the committee's name. (EY '21; Dec '21)