Willis, Shellie: Alleged Violations of RCW 42.17A.405 for receiving over limit contributions (EY23, Aug23)

Case

#140784

Respondent

Shellie Willis

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

PDC staff reviewed the allegation(s); the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the response(s) provided by the Respondent; the applicable PDC reports filed by the Respondent; the Respondent’s data in the PDC contribution and expenditure database; and other relevant information, to decide whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

Based on staff’s review, we found the following:

• On April 21, 2023, Shellie Willis filed a Candidate Registration (C-1) report and selected the Full Reporting Option. Ms. Willis filed a Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1) on April 24, 2023, for the period 4/20/22 – 4/19/23 and she filed a declaration of candidacy on May 15, 2023.  The Treasurer for the campaign is Jason Bennet.
• RCW 42.17A.405 limits candidates to receiving $1,200 in contributions from any one individual for each election in which the candidate’s name appears on the ballot.  (The limits are subject to periodic review and revision by rule, as required by statute.)
• Only two candidates filed to run for the at-large city council position, in the City of Puyallup 2023 election, so there was no primary election for this race and Shellie Willis’s name did not appear on the 2023 primary ballot.  Accordingly, each candidate is limited to a $1,200 contribution from any single source during the 2023 election.
• Upon reviewing the campaign’s Cash Receipts, Monetary Contributions (C-3) reports, multiple contributions, totaling $1,571.61, were received from Sandra Calvillo.  The contributions exceed the allowed limit of $1,200.
• On August 8, 2023, the campaign responded to the complaint and said, “the last two donations from Sandra Calvillo should have been split with her spouse for whom she shares a joint account from which the donation was drawn.”  The campaign amended the C-3 reports and reports #110164969 and #110164970 now show each of the $523.87 contributions split between Javier Calvillo and Sandra K. Calvillo.  With these corrections, Sandra Calvillo has donated a total of $1,047.75 to the campaign.
• Ms. Willis is a first-time candidate for office.  The campaign took responsibility and promptly corrected the reporting errors.
• Ms. Willis does not have other similar warnings or violations of PDC requirements.

Based on our case review, staff has decided that, in this instance, there does not appear to be evidence supporting a finding of a violation that calls for further investigation.

Per WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), however, Shellie Willis will receive a formal written warning concerning failure to accurately file contribution information leading to the appearance of receiving over limit contributions.  Staff expects the campaign to follow filing requirements and to stay within the statutory contribution limits in this and all future campaigns.  If violations of PDC laws or rules occur in the future, the Commission will consider this formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action.

Based on this information, the PDC finds that no further action necessary and has dismissed this matter per RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

August 08, 2023

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.405

Documents

• 140784 Willis Shellie Complaint.pdf
• 140784 Willis_Shellie Complaint Return Letter (combined).pdf
• 140784 Willis_Shellie Response.pdf