Monica Stonier: Alleged violations of RCW 42.17A.430 by using Campaign funds to attend a political party committee fundraiser, in which a portion of the funds used resulted in a contribution to the committee. (EY'23; Aug'23)

Case

#141231

Respondent

Monica Stonier

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

A complaint was filed against the 2024 Monica Stonier Campaign alleging a violation of RCW 42.17A.430(8) by making an expenditure to attend a Clark County Democratic Party event and purchasing a table using campaign funds, with a portion of the expenditure generating a profit or contribution by the party committee.

RCW 42.17A.430(8) states that “No candidate or authorized committee may transfer funds to any other candidate or other political committee.” Based on the statute, the complaint alleged the 2024 Monica Stonier (Campaign) made a prohibited contribution using 2023 active Campaign funds to the Clark County Democratic Party.

Representative Stonier was elected State Representative in 2012 from the 17th Legislative District, Position #1, in which she served one-term, before being elected State Representative in the 49th Legislative District, Position #2, in 2016. She was re-elected to that office in 2018, 2020, and 2022, respectively.

On January 10, 2023, Monica Stonier filed a Candidate Registration with the PDC declaring her candidacy for re-election to the office of State Representative in the 49th Legislative District, Position #2, in 2024, selecting the Full Reporting Option and listing Marsha Manning as the Ministerial Treasurer/Compliance Officer for the Campaign.

On July 10, 2023, the Campaign timely filed a Summary Full Campaign Contributions and Expenditures report (C-4 report) covering the period June 1 through 30, 2023, disclosing that a $1,250 Campaign expenditure was made to the Clark County Democratic Party (Committee) on June 1, 2023, to purchase a “Table at Democrat’s annual fundraiser.”

Ms. Manning stated the Campaign acknowledged purchasing a table for 10 at the Committee’s annual Val Ogden dinner for $1,250. She stated that the “table was purchased as a thank you to volunteers of the Elect Monica Stonier campaign”, and the Committee acknowledged that the event table sponsors get their name listed the dinner program. She confirmed Ms. Stonier was named in the program or invites as a table sponsor and stated that candidates that attended the event were “allowed to address the attendees when time is available, and they had the option to bring yard signs and remit envelopes to display on side tables.”

However, Ms. Manning stated that since Representative Stonier “was unable to attend the dinner…the last options were not acted on.” She stated that the Campaign contacted the Committee after receiving the complaint to get an accounting of actual dinner costs. She stated that as a past manager of the Val Ogden event, “I can speak to the process of determining ticket prices.” She stated at the end of the event dinner, “costs are calculated against income to determine what next year’s ticket price will be” and the Committee estimated the 2023 costs for the event were $125 per ticket or $1,250 total costs for a table of 10. She stated those costs included a reserved seat, dinner, dessert, and wine, but that the actual cost came to $113.74 per person or a total of $1,137.40 for a party of 10.

Ms. Manning stated that while “the estimate was very close, no one can predict future costs exactly. The party made a profit of $11.26 per ticket or $112.63 per table” for a party of 10. She stated that all the accounting and figures to determine the costs of the event were supplied to her by the treasurer of the Clark County Democrats.

On October 5, 2023, the Campaign filed a Monetary Contributions report (C-3 report) disclosing that on October 4, 2023, the Campaign received a $112.63 miscellaneous receipt from the Committee, that was deposited into the Campaign bank account on October 5, 2023. The C-3 report filed by the Campaign included the following description for the miscellaneous receipt refund: “Refund of the amount determined to be profit on purchased table of 10 seats at the Clark Co Democrats annual fundraiser.”

PDC staff did not find evidence of violations that would require conducting a more formal investigation into the complaint or pursuing further enforcement action in this instance.

In accordance with WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), PDC staff is issuing a formal written warning to the 2024 Monica Stonier Campaign concerning the requirement that no active Campaign funds can be used to make an expenditure to a political party committee, or any other political committee, that results in a contribution being made, or a profit being generated for an event. The Commission will consider this formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action if there are future violations of PDC laws and rules.

PDC staff is dismissing this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

August 18, 2023

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.430