Bye Sheriff Urquhart Campaign: Alleged violations of Chapter 42.17A RCW for failure to timely register as a political committee, receiving and retaining over-limit anonymous contributions, and failure to report contributions and expenditures (EY 17, OCT 17)

Case

#27029

Respondent

Erin Marie Scurry

Complainant

Chris Barringer

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint Chris Barringer filed on October 16, 2017. The complaint alleged that the Bye Sheriff Urquhart Campaign (Respondent), sponsors of a GoFundMe account and a Facebook Page, may have violated RCW 42.17A.205 for failure to timely file a Political Committee Registration report (C-1pc report); and RCW 42.17A.235 for failure to timely and accurately file Monetary Contribution reports (C-3 reports) and Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports), disclosing contributions and expenditures undertaken by the Campaign. 
PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the responses 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 register as a political committee and report contributions and expenditures does not amount to a violation that warrants further investigation. 

However, pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), the Bye Sheriff Urquhart Campaign will receive a formal written warning concerning failure to timely register as a political committee and report contributions and expenditures, and for exceeding anonymous contribution limits. The formal written warning will include staff’s expectation that the Bye Sheriff Urquhart Campaign timely registers future campaigns and reports contribution and expenditure activity, and to only accept contributions within statutory limitations. 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 finds that no further action is warranted and has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1). 

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

November 02, 2017

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.205, RCW 42.17A.220, RCW 42.17A.235

Documents

• 27029 Bye Sherrif Urquhart Campaign Response.pdf
• 27029 Bye Sheriff Urquhart Campaign Warning Letter.pdf
• 27029 Bye Sherrif Urquhart Campaign Complaint.pdf