Represent Okanogan County: Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.235, .250 for failure to timely and accurately report contributions, expenditures, and debt. (DEC 17)

Case

#29501

Respondent

Sharon Sumpter

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

A complaint was filed against Represent Okanogan County PAC (Committee), a 2017 single year political committee registered with the PDC, alleging that the Committee may have violated RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 by failing to timely file Monetary Contributions reports (C-3 reports), and Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports) disclosing contribution and expenditure activities, including the reporting of debts, and providing a more detailed description of expenditures and identifying any sub-vendors that provided goods or services to the Committee.

Based on staff's findings, and the facts the Committee: (1) was a first-time committee with limited knowledge of the PDC reporting requirements; (2) timely filed the 21-Day and 7-Day Pre-General Election C-4 reports; (3) was a small, unsophisticated, all-volunteer committee with less than $13,400 in total expenditures made to run a local political committee; and (4) timely sent a $950 check when made aware of exceeding the anonymous contribution limits to resolve that issue; that in this instance, the failure to timely register as a political committee and file C-3 and C-4 reports as a political committee does not amount to a finding of an actual violation warranting further investigation.

However, pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d) PDC staff formally warned the Committee and its Officers concerning the importance of timely registering as a political committee, and timely filing C-3 and C-4 reports disclosing contribution and expenditure activities as required by PDC laws, rules and reporting requirements for a political committee. The formal written warning included staff’s expectation that the Committee and its Officers will timely register and disclose its contribution and expenditure activities as a political committee, if its Officers register another political committee under the Full Reporting Option in the future. 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 has dismissed the complaint in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

January 16, 2018

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240