Glenn Dobbs (Wenatchee Values Alliance): Alleged violations of RCW 42.17A.255 & .320 for failure to include IE description & for failure to provide sponsor id on political advertising in support of Randy Smith & Tricia Cleek (OCT23, EY23)

Case

#144377

Respondent

Glenn Dobbs (Wenatchee Values Alliance)

Complainant

Xaxira Velasco Ponce de Leon & Spencer Ercanbrack

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaints filed on October 23, 2023, and November 6, 2023. The complaints alleged that Glenn Dobbs (Wenatchee Values Alliance) may have violated: (1) RCW 42.17A.255 for failure to include detailed descriptions for an Independent Expenditure (IE) mailing; and (2) RCW 42.17A.320 for failure to include the required sponsor identification on political advertisement, both done in support of Tricia Cleek and Randy Smith, 2023 candidates for Wenatchee School District 246 School Director 

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; queried the Respondent’s data in the PDC contribution and expenditure database; and other relevant information, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

While our investigation found that Mr. Dobbs was the sponsor of two political advertisements and failed to timely file C-6 reports and include sponsor identification information, he was inexperienced and unfamiliar with the PDC requirements pertaining to independent expenditures and sponsor identification requirements on political advertisement. Additionally, our investigation also found no prior PDC violations against Mr. Dobbs.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to include sponsor identification for Independent Expenditure advertisements and failure to timely file C-6 reports disclosing those IEs supporting the 2023 Tricia Cleek and Randy Smith campaigns, does not amount to a finding of a violation that warrants further investigation.

Pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), however, Glenn Dobbs will receive a formal written warning concerning failure to timely report Independent Expenditures for political advertising, including his failure to include sponsor identification requirements on political advertising supporting two 2023 candidates. 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

November 01, 2023

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.255, RCW 42.17A.320

Documents

Subscribe for updates

{{statusMessage}}

To subscribe to this case, enter your email address in the form below and click "Send confirmation link" button. You will be sent a secure link via email that will confirm your subscription.


An email containing a link to confirm your subscription to this case has been sent to {{ email }}.

If you do not receive an email within a few minutes, please check your junk mail or mail filters.

Send again

{{statusMessage}}