Eastside Democratic Dinner Committee (2): Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.235 for failure to timely and fully disclose contributions on reports (C-3 & C-4) (EY20, July20)

Case

#73884

Respondent

Eastside Democratic Dinner Committee PAC

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

A complaint was filed alleging that the Eastside Democratic Dinner Committee (Committee), a political committee registered with the PDC may have violated: (1) RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 by failing to disclose a $500 contribution received from the King County Democratic Central Committee; and (2) RCW 42.17A.430 by accepting a $1,000 contribution from the Tana Senn Surplus Funds Account and not being eligible to receive a contribution since they are not a political party organization.

The Registration filed by the Committee listed its Officers as Steve Kasner, Chair of the 41st District Democrats; K.C. Shankland, Chair of the 5th District Democrats; James Terwilliger, Chair of the 48th District Democrats; David Williams, Chair of the 45th District Democrats.

The Committee acknowledged receiving a $500 contribution from the King County Democratic Central Committee on June 23, 2020. However, they noted the Committee “erroneously reported the contribution as coming from Ms. Shasti Conrad. Ms. Conrad is the chair of the King County Democratic Central Committee.” The Committee stated on June 23, 2020, Ms. Conrad made an online contribution as Chair of the King County Democratic Central Committee using the party’s debit card, but that “when the ActBlue confirmation came through to our treasurer only Ms. Conrad’s name was shown on the confirmation.” The Committee included a June 23, 2020, email from ActBlue and stating on the Subject line “(ActBlue) Shasti Conrad $500 to Eastside Democrats.

On July 22, 2020, the Committee filed an amended C-3 report disclosing “the King County Democratic Central Committee as the donor and removing Shasti Conrad’s personal name” as the contributor. The contribution had been deposited on June 24, 2020, and the original C-3 report was timely filed by the Committee on June 28, 2020.

Concerning the contribution received from the Tana Senn Surplus Funds account, the Committee acknowledged receiving the contribution from the Tana Senn Surplus Account, but that the Committee “relied on the Senn team with regards to the appropriate account from which the donation could be made. Upon learning of this error, we immediately refunded the donation of $1,000 to the Tana Senn Surplus Account.” The Committees refund check was received by the Tana Senn Surplus Funds account and deposited into the surplus fund bank account on July 23, 2020, per the Committee bank records.

Staff found that the $500 contribution received by the Eastside Democratic Dinner Committee from the King County Democratic Central Committee was timely received and deposited. However, due to processing issue on the part of the vendor the contributor information provided to the Committee inadvertently attributed the contribution to Ms. Conrad, the Chair of the King County Democratic Central Committee. Once notified of the discrepancy, the Eastside Democratic Dinner Committee promptly filed an amended report disclosing the King County Democratic Central Committee as the contributor. In addition, while the surplus fund expenditure was improperly made by Tana Senn using surplus funds to a political committee, the Eastside Democratic Dinner Committee did not violate RCW 42.17.430 by receiving and depositing the $1,000 contribution from the Tana Senn Surplus Funds Account.

The PDC has dismissed the complaint in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

July 22, 2020

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235