Meridian Citizens for Education Committee: Alleged Violations of RCW 42.17A.235, .240, & .320 for failure to timely & accurately disclose contributions & expenditures & RCW failure to provide complete sponsor ID on Political Advertising (EY25 APR25)

Case

#169884

Respondent

Meridian Citizens for Education Committee

Complainant

Conner Edwards

Description

Allegation: Violations of RCW 42.17A.235, .240, & .320 for failure to timely & accurately disclose contributions & expenditures & RCW failure to provide complete sponsor ID on Political Advertising

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) reviewed the complaints filed by Conner Edwards on April 1, 2025, and April 16, 2025:

The April 1, 2025, complaint alleges that Meridian Citizens for Education Committee (the Committee) may have violated RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 by failing to timely and accurately disclose contribution and expenditure information and RCW 42.17A.320 by failing to include complete sponsor identification on political advertising.
The April 16, 2025, complaint alleges that Meridian Citizens for Education Committee failed to file its required 7-day pre-special election C-4 report of contributions and expenditures.

The PDC dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

However, pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), you are receiving a formal written warning concerning Meridian Citizens for Education Committee’s failure to timely file a C-3 Report, include sponsor identification on its website, include the name of a Committee Co-Chair on its registration, and timely file a pre-special election C-4 report. PDC staff appreciates your stated intention to comply with all disclosure requirements in the future and expects that, going forward, you will carefully monitor the committee’s compliance with disclosure requirements. The Commission will consider this formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action if there are future violations of PDC laws or rules.

Background and Findings

Meridian Citizens for Education Committee has been registered with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) since 2015, supporting bonds and levies for Meridian School District 505. Sara Bernardy has served as the Committee’s Co-Chair and Treasurer since 2023.

Missing C-3 Report for $350 Deposit

Bernardy acknowledged that a $350 deposit was reported on the March 2025 C-4 report without a corresponding deposit being reported on a C-3 report. Bernardy stated the error was an oversight. She noted that the C-4 was filed timely, stating that she mistakenly assumed the draft C-3 had also been filed. The missing C-3 report was filed immediately upon notification that the report was missing.

Missing Sponsor Identification on Website

The Vote Meridian website (https://votemeridian.org/) did not include the required sponsor identification statement as required by RCW 42.17A.320. On or before April 17, 2025, the Committee updated its website in the footer of every page to state, “Paid for by Meridian Citizens for Education Committee.” Please add the Committee’s mailing address to the sponsor identification.

Omission of Co-Chair Robert Kratzig from the Committee Registration

The Committee acknowledged that Robert Kratzig, who is listed as a Co-Chair on the Committee’s website, was accidentally not originally included as an officer on the Committee’s registration. On April 9, 2025, the Committee updated its Committee Registration to include Robert Kratzig as a Co-Chair of the Committee.

Late Filing of 7-day pre-special election C-4 report

In response to the supplemental complaint filed April 16, 2025, alleging that the Committee failed to file its required 7-day pre-special election C-4 report of contributions and expenditures, the Committee acknowledged that the 7-day C-4 report was not filed by the original due date but noted that the report was submitted on April 16, 2025, at 11:38 a.m., within one business day of the report’s due date. The Committee stated the delay was unintentional and was “a brief administrative oversight due to the treasurer being on travel.”

Summary and Resolution of Complaint

Meridian Citizens for Education Committee failed to timely file a C-3 Report disclosing a $350 contribution included on a C-4 report; did not include a sponsor identification on the Committee’s website; did not originally list a Committee Co-Chair on the Committee’s 2025 registration; and filed the Committee’s 7-day pre-special election C-4 report one day late.

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

April 04, 2025

Areas of Law*

RCW 29B.25.090/42.17A.235, RCW 29B.25.100/42.17A.240, RCW 29B.30.050/42.17A.320

*On January 1, 2026, RCW 42.17A was recodified to RCW 29B