Whatcom County Officials - Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.555 using county resources for political activity (Oct 2015)

Alleged use of Whatcom County facilities by Jack Louws, County Executive, and other County officials to promote Proposition 2015-1, a November 3, 2015 ballot measure concerning construction of a new jail facility, by sending a mailer that: (1) is not a fair and objective presentation of facts because it does not accurately present the costs and other anticipated impacts of the ballot measure and because some of the pictures are inflamatory; (2) included the pictures of two officials up for election; (3) was targeted to registered voters; (4) failed to disclose that passage would max out the county's ability to tax for public safety issues for 30 years; (5) coordinated the distribution of information about the ballot measure with campaign efforts; (6) referred to Proposition 1 rather than Proposition 2015-1, creating confusion about which measure concerned the jail issue; (7) distribution of the mailer was not a Normal and Regular activity for the county as contemplated under RCW 42.17A.555; and (8) that the mailer constituted an Electioneering Communication as defined in RCW 42.17A.005(19)(a).