Bird, Misipati Semi: Alleged Violations of RCW 42.17A.710 for failure to accurately disclose personal financial information of the F-1 (EY24, Mar24)

Case

#150818

Respondent

Semi Bird

Complainant

Robert Parker

Description

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

• Semi Bird was an elected Richland 400 School Director for the period of November 23, 2021, to August 15, 2023.  On November 12, 2022, Mr. Bird field a Candidate Registration (C-1) for election year 2024 as a candidate for Governor of Washington State.
• RCW 42.17A.710 and WAC 390-24 outline the requirements for the Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1) disclosure.  A candidate running for an office in a jurisdiction with at least 2,000 registered voters, or a candidate in a jurisdiction with fewer voters but who will raise or expect to raise at least $7,000 in contributions, must file an F-1.  The F-1 must be filed within two weeks of becoming a candidate.  The reporting period for a candidate is the previous 12 months from the filing date of the F-1.  Elected officials, state boards and commission members, state agency directors, and legislative and gubernatorial professional staff must file annually. Annual reports are due April 15 and cover the previous calendar year.
• A CY2022 F-1, for the period January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, for an elected official was due April 17, 2023 (the first business day following April 15, which fell on a Saturday in 2023).  Mr. Bird filed a timely CY2022 F-1 on April 17, 2023.
• Your complaint alleged Mr. Bird did not include, on his CY2022 F-1, a business association, previously disclosed on his CY2021 F-1, and a debt incurred in 2022 through the arbitration of a business dispute where he was named personally liable.
• On April 7, 2024, Mr. Bird amended the CY2022 F-1 to include the $60,000 debt owed by him to the individuals named in the arbitration agreement.  However, he did not update the business association, and PDC staff let him know on April 16, 2024.  Then on April 19, 2024, he again amended the F-1 to include Patriot Builders, LLC, a business for which he owned 10 percent or more interest, but inadvertently dropped the $60,000 debt.  On May 9, 2024, Mr. Bird again amended the F-1 to report the $60,000 debt.
• Mr. Bird has previously accepted an SOU and paid a $100 penalty for PDC case #95488 where he acknowledged violating RCW 42.17A.700 for untimely filing of the 2021 F-1 at the time he became a candidate for elected office.

Pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(f), Semi Bird completed a Statement of Understanding (SOU) and paid a $150 civil penalty in accordance with WAC 390-37-143 (Brief Enforcement Penalty Schedule), acknowledging a violation of RCW 42.17A.710 for failing to accurately disclose personal financial information on the Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1) for calendar year 2022.  The $150 penalty assessed resolves the allegations listed in your complaint.

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

Disposition

Resolved through Statement of Understanding

Date Opened

March 25, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.710

Documents

• 150818 Bird Misipati Semi Complaint.pdf
• 150818 Bird Misipati Semi Response.pdf
• SOU - Case 150818 & 152546 - Misipati Semi Bird.pdf
• 150818 Bird_Misipati Semi Complaint Return Letter (combined).pdf

Penalties