Gurel, Lance: Alleged Violations of RCW 42.17A.235 & .240 for failing to timely & accurately disclose contributions & expenditures (EY '20; AUG '23)

Case

#141227

Respondent

Lance Gurel

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

Pursuant to the notice of brief enforcement hearing (brief adjudicative proceeding) sent to Lance Gurel on July 23, 2024, a brief adjudicative proceeding was held on August 29, 2024, remotely from Olympia, WA. The purpose of the hearing was to consider whether Lance Gurel violated RCW 42.17A.235 & .240 by failing to: (1) accurately identify monetary contributors; (2) disclose the candidate filing fee; and (3) include required descriptions for campaign expenditures on Monetary Contribution reports (C-3 reports) and Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports).

The hearing was held in accordance with Chapters 34.05 RCW, 42.17A RCW and Chapter 390-37 WAC.

Having considered the evidence, the Presiding Officer finds as follows:

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. On January 16, 2020, Lance Gurel filed the Candidate Registration (C-1 report), selecting the “Full Reporting” option and listing Regan Glover as Treasurer.

2. On August 10, 2023, PDC staff received a complaint filed by Glen Morgan alleging that Lance Gurel had violated RCW 42.17A.235 and .240, by failing to: (1) accurately identify monetary contributors; (2) disclose the candidate filing fee; and (3) include required descriptions for campaign expenditures on Monetary Contribution reports (C-3 reports) and Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports).

3. During the 2020 campaign, the Respondent submitted C-3 reports mis-identifying their online payment vendor ActBlue as the source of several monetary contributions. The Respondent also failed to disclose the candidate filing fee and failed to include the required detail for political advertising expenditures made by the campaign.

 
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

Based on the above facts, as a matter of law, the Presiding Officer concludes as follows:

1. This matter was duly and properly convened, and all jurisdictional, substantive, and procedural requirements have been satisfied.

2. Lance Gurel violated RCW 42.17A.235 & RCW 42.17A.240 by failing to: (1) accurately identify monetary contributors; (2) disclose the candidate filing fee; and (3) include required descriptions for campaign expenditures on C-3 and C-4 reports.

ORDER

ON the basis of the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law,

1. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Respondent shall make corrections and file amendments to C-3 and C-4 reports previously filed for the 2020 election, within 30 days of this Order and is assessed a total civil penalty of $300 in accordance with the Brief Enforcement penalty schedule set forth in WAC 390-37-143. 
2. It is further ordered that $150 of the $300 penalty is suspended on the following conditions:
a. The non-suspended portion of the penalty ($150) is paid by the Respondent within 30 days of the date of this Order.
b. The Respondent files all amended C-3 and C-4 reports for the 2020 election, within 30 days of this Order.
3. It is further ordered that, if the Respondent fails to comply with any of the above conditions:
a. The full $300 penalty shall immediately become due without further action by the Commission and PDC Staff is directed to refer the matter to collections and/or commence other legal proceedings as authorized by RCW 42.17A and 390 WAC.
b. Any missing campaign reports shall be due immediately.
 

Disposition

Violation Found by Commission

Date Opened

August 18, 2023

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

Documents

• 141227 Gurel Lance Complaint Attachments.pdf
• 141227 Initial Hearing Results - Respondent.pdf
• 141227 Gurel Lance Complaint.pdf
• 141227 Gurel Lance BAP Hearing Notice.pdf
• 141227 Gurel Lance Memorandum to PO - Brief.pdf
• 141227 Gurel Lance Response.pdf
• 141227 Gurel Lance BAP Order.pdf

Penalties