Browning, Peter: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.235 & .240 for failure to timely & accurately report contributions & expenditures on C-4 reports. (EY '21; Aug '22)

Case

#111268

Respondent

Peter Browning

Complainant

Conner Edwards

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint filed on August 2, 2022. The complaint alleged that Peter Browning, a candidate for County Commissioner for Skagit County in the 2020 election, may have violated RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 for failure to timely and accurately file Monetary Contribution reports (C-3 reports) and Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports), disclosing contributions and expenditures undertaken by the Campaign.

PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the response provided by the Respondent; the applicable PDC reports filed by the Respondent; and queried the Respondent’s data in the PDC contribution and expenditure database, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

It appears that the late reporting was due in large part to a general lack of understanding of PDC reporting obligations by the Respondent. Although this confusion was the major contributing factor in the late reporting, staff found no evidence that the late reporting was done intentionally to conceal campaign activity from the public.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to timely and accurately file C-3 and C-4 reports for the 2020 Browning Campaign does not amount to a finding of a violation that warrants further investigation.

Pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), however, Peter Browning will receive a formal written warning concerning failure to timely and accurately disclose contributions and expenditures for his 2020 Campaign. The formal written warning will include staff’s expectation that Mr. Browning timely and accurately files all future required reports of contributions and expenditures. The Commission will consider the formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action if there are future violations of PDC laws or rules.

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 Written Warning

Date Opened

August 04, 2022

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

Documents

• 111268 Browning Peter Complaint.pdf
• 111268 Browning Peter Response.pdf
• 111268 Browning Peter Warning - Complainant.pdf
• 111268 Browning Peter Warning - Respondent.pdf