Tyler Byrd: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.205, .235, and .240 for failure to register their 2025 campaign within two weeks of becoming a candidate and failure to timely and accurately report contributions and expenditures (EY21-25 JUL25)

Case

#176756

Respondent

Tyler Byrd

Complainant

Patricia Mullett

Description

Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.205, .235, and .240 for failure to register their 2025 campaign within two weeks of becoming a candidate and failure to timely and accurately report contributions and expenditures
The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) completed its review of the complaint filed by Patricia Mullett on July 13, 2025. The complaint alleged that Byrd failed to register his 2025 campaign within two weeks of becoming a candidate for reelection and that he failed to timely and accurately report contributions and expenditures from 2021 to 2025.

the PDC has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1). However, pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), staff sent a formal written warning concerning the Respondent’s failure to timely register and report for his 2025 reelection campaign. Staff expects that Tyler Byrd will timely file all future required reports of contributions and expenditures. 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

·       Tyler Byrd was first elected to the Whatcom County Council in 2017. He was reelected in 2021 and ran for reelection in 2025 but was defeated in the 2025 primary election.

·       Byrd had unspent funds at the end of his 2021 campaign totaling $19,350.31. Byrd stated he always intended to run for reelection in 2025 and maintained his email address, websites, video databases, and other on-going campaign subscription expenses in anticipation of running for reelection in 2025.

·       Byrd’s treasurer moved to Idaho after filing the final report for the 2021 general election. Byrd stated he did not understand, at that time, that because he intended to use the surplus from the 2021 campaign for his reelection campaign in 2025, he was required to file a new candidate registration and report the on-going reelection subscription expenses when they crossed the threshold for reporting, beginning in 2022.

·       On April 13, 2025, three months before the complaint was filed, Byrd hired Bruce Ayers of Ayers Consulting to serve as treasurer for his 2025 campaign and to file all missing reports. Ayers brought the 2025 reporting up to date and amended 2021 reports to include additional descriptive information for expenditures. The 2025 reporting and amendments to the 2021 reports were completed before the complaint was filed.

·       Byrd said he did not campaign or accept contributions for reelection in 2025 until after all reporting was brought up to date.

·       Byrd stated he did not send broadcast emails after the 2021 campaign and only maintained the MailChimp subscription to ensure the data and assets were not lost and for future use in his 2025 reelection campaign.

·       Byrd also stated that the FlyWheel subscription that includes email services is not an email broadcast service. He said he did not use the service to send any emails.

·       Byrd stated that his reelection campaign ended on August 5, 2025 when he finished third in the primary election.

Summary and Resolution

Tyler Byrd was reelected to the Whatcom County Council in 2021 and finished his campaign with a surplus. He did not initially understand that because he intended to run for reelection 2025, he needed to file a candidate registration and file expenditure reports when reporting thresholds were met. Byrd hired Bruce Ayers of Ayers Consulting to file all missing reports for his 2025 campaign. Ayers also amended 2021 reports to better describe expenditure descriptions. All reports were submitted before the complaint was filed. Byrd lost in the 2025 primary election.

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

July 30, 2025

Areas of Law*

RCW 29B.25.020/42.17A.205, RCW 29B.25.090/42.17A.235, RCW 29B.25.100/42.17A.240

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