Advocates, Inc.: Alleged violations of RCW 42.17A.615 for failure to timely report lobbying activities as a lobbyist and .605 for failure to submit recent photograph at time of registration (EY 18; Jan 19)

Case

#46093

Respondent

Ehren Flygare

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint filed by Glen Morgan on January 28, 2019. The complaint alleged that Ehren Flygare/Advocates Inc., a registered lobbyist with a contract lobbying firm registered with the PDC, may have violated RCW 42.17A.615 by failing to timely file Lobbyist Monthly Expense Reports (L-2 Reports) disclosing lobbying expenditures for calendar years 2016, 2017, and 2018, and RCW 42.17A.605 by failing to provide a recent photograph of Ehren Flygare at the time he filed his Lobbyist Registration  (L-1 report). 

PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the responses provided by Ehren Flygare; the applicable PDC reports filed by Respondent; and the Lobbyist Application revision history screen; and queried the Respondent’s data in the PDC lobbyist compensation and expenses by source database, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.  

The $450 penalty assessed resolves the allegations concerning the failure to timely and accurately file L-2 reports for calendar years 2016, 2017, and 2018, disclosing lobbying compensation and activities, including personal contributions made to legislators. In addition, Mr. Flygare has provided a photograph to comply with the lobbyist picture requirement as part of the L-1 filing requirements.  

Based on this information and the facts that Ehren Flygare/Advocates, Inc. has no prior PDC violations, demonstrated a good-faith effort to bring reports into compliance, and has hired a professional to file his PDC lobbying reports going forward, the PDC finds that no further action is warranted and has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1). 
 

Disposition

Resolved through Statement of Understanding

Date Opened

January 29, 2019

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.605, RCW 42.17A.615

Documents

• 46093 Advocates Inc Complaint Return Letter for Statement of Understanding.pdf
• 46093 Advocates Inc Response.pdf
• 46093 Advocates Inc Statement of Understanding.pdf
• 46093 Advocates Inc Complaint.pdf
• 46093 Advocates Inc Supplemental Response.pdf

Penalties