Wright, Cory: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.555 for misuse of public facilities to support the candidate's own election campaign (EY 19; Oct 19)

Case

#59159

Respondent

Cory Wright

Complainant

Fennelle Miller

Description

The complaint alleged Kittitas County Commissioner Cory Wright may have violated RCW 42.17A.555 by using county facilities to support the 2019 campaign of Cory Wright for Kittitas County Commissioner.  
PDC staff reviewed the allegations, the applicable statutes and rules, the mailer, and the response provided by Drew Stokesbary of Stokesbary PLLC, counsel for Cory Wright, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

RCW 42.17A.555 states “No elective official nor any employee of his or her office nor any person appointed to or employed by any public office or agency may use or authorize the use of any of the facilities of a public office or agency, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition.”  RCW 42.17A.555 does not restrict the right of any individual to express his or her own personal views concerning, supporting, or opposing any candidate or ballot proposition, if such expression does not involve a use of the facilities of a public office or agency.

Cory Wright is not found to have used public facilities to promote his 2019 campaign for Kittitas Board of County Commissioners. 

Based on these findings staff has determined, in this instance, the alleged use of public facilities to support the campaign of Cory Wright for Kittitas County Commissioner does not amount to a violation warranting further investigation. 

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 No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

October 24, 2019

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.555

Documents

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