MacEwen, Drew: Alleged violations of Chapter 42.17A RCW for unauthorized contributions to political parties, failure to report surplus fund expenditure, and failure to accurately and timely report contributions and expenditures (Sep 17)

Case

#24989

Respondent

Drew MacEwen

Complainant

Walter Smith

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint Walter Smith filed on September 1, 2017. The complaint alleged that Drew MacEwen (Respondent), a 2016 candidate for State Representative, for Legislative District 35, may have violated RCW 42.17A.445 for unauthorized transfers of candidate funds to political committees and nonprofit organizations; RCW 42.17A.430 for failure to report expenditures from a surplus funds account; and RCW 42.17A.235 for failure to timely report contributions.

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

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to timely report surplus funds expenditures and making unauthorized transfer of candidate committee funds to party organizations do not amount to violations that warrants further investigation.

PDC staff is reminding Drew MacEwen about the importance of the timely disclosure of contribution and expenditure activity, and the prohibition on transfer of candidate funds to any other candidate or political committee. PDC staff expects that future transfers of funds will be made using personal or surplus funds, and timely reported in accordance with PDC laws and 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 Reminder

Date Opened

September 14, 2017

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240, RCW 42.17A.430, RCW 42.17A.445, WAC 390-16-236