Safer Spokane: Alleged violation of Chapter 42.17A RCW for failure to accurately and timely register as a political committee, report contributions and expenditures, and include Sponsor ID and Top Contributors on political advertising (EY 17; Oct 17)

Case

#26493

Respondent

Safer Spokane

Complainant

Arthur Whitten

Description

A complaint was filed against Safer Spokane (Committee), a local Spokane ballot measure committee registered with the PDC to support a local Spokane ballot measure concerning oil and coal trains on the November 7, 2017 general election ballot, alleging that the Committee may have violated: (1) RCW 42.17A.205 by failing to timely register as a ballot committee; (2) 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; and (3) RCW 42.17A.320 by failing to include the Top 5 contributor information in the sponsor identification for political advertising.

Based on staff's findings that Safer Spokane: (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 $7,200 in total expenditures made in running a local ballot committee; and (4) timely sent a $74 check when made aware of the anonymous contribution limits to resolve that issue, in this instance, the failure to timely register as a political committee and file C-3 and C-4 reports as a ballot committee does not amount to a finding of an actual violation warranting further investigation.

Pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d) PDC staff formally warned Safer Spokane 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 ballot committee.  The formal written warning included staff’s expectation that Safer Spokane and its Officers will timely register and disclose its contribution and expenditure activities as a ballot 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

October 23, 2017

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.205, RCW 42.17A.235

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