Just Vote No & Cemal Richards: Alleged violations of RCW 42.17A.205, .235 & .240 for failure to register & report as a local ballot measure committee. (EY '21'; Nov '21)

Case

#100592

Respondent

Just Vote No & Cemal Richards

Complainant

Terri Niles

Description

A complaint was filed alleging that Cemal Richards violated either: (1) RCW 42.17A.205, .235, and .240 by failing to register and file reports as a local ballot measure committee in opposition to the Clark County Charter Amendments that appeared on the November 2, 2021 general election; or (2) RCW 42.17A.255 by failing to file reports of Independent Expenditure (C-6 report), by making expenditures in opposition to the Clark County Charter Amendments. 

Mr. Richards stated that he created the Just Vote No Facebook page because “there were no opposing arguments in the voters’ pamphlet and I wanted to educate voters on what the cons were if they approved the Charter Amendments.”  He stated that he “found out about the signs later on, I had no involvement in funding or creating them.” Concerning the mailers mentioned in the complaint allegation, they were actually fliers, and he did not design them or “provide any funding for them.” 

Mr. Richards stated that he is “a software engineer by trade so I made the website myself and downloaded a free template from https://html5up.net/.”  He stated that he “spent no money on the efforts” that he undertook to bring awareness to the Clark County Charter Amendments that appeared on the November 2, 2021 ballot.    

Mr. Richards stated that  “Kris Greene did not contact me about the signs, but I saw a post on Facebook from him that mentioned that the fliers were available at his office. I don't know how many signs were produced or posted.”  Concerning the fliers, he stated that Mr. Greene “did not contact me about the fliers being available. I don't know how many were printed and I don't know how they were distributed.” 

Mr. Richards concluded by stating that “I did NOT solicit or accept any contributions to oppose the Charter Amendments on behalf of Kris Greene or any other person. I started the Just Vote No effort because there were no opposing arguments in the voter pamphlet.” 
 

Based on these findings, staff has determined in this instance that the activities undertaken by Cemal Richards in opposition to several of the 2021 Clark County Charter Amendments that included submitting opposition statements in the 2021 November 2, 2021, Clark County Voter’s Pamphlet and creating a website using his knowledge as a computer engineer did not require him to register and report as a ballot measure committee.   Mr. Richards did not solicit or accept contributions to engage in his activities, and he did not incur any tangible costs to create the Vote No website.  

In addition, Mr. Richard did not spend personal funds more than $100 so he was not required to file an Independent Expenditures report (C-6 report) in accordance with RCW 42.17A.255. 

Based on this information, the PDC has dismissed the allegations against Cemal Richards in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).  
 

Disposition

Case Closed with No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

November 08, 2021

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.205, RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

Documents

• 100592 Just Vote No & Cemal Richards.pdf
• Email Response from Cemal Richards (PDC Case 100592).pdf
• Cemal Richards Complaint Return Letter and Cover Ltr (PDC Case 100592).pdf