Spokane Home Builders Association

Spokane Home Builders Association: Alleged violations of RCW 42.17A.255 for failure to report independent expenditures for electronic billboard advertising space [C-6 Form] (EY 17; Nov 17)

Case Details

Case Number

27641

Respondent

Spokane Home Builders Association

Complainant

Karen Hardy

Date Opened

November 20, 2017

Case Status

Resolved through Statement of Understanding (SOU)

Respondent admitted violation and possibly paid penalty.

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Area(s) of Law*

  • RCW 29B.25.120/42.17A.255

*On January 1, 2026, RCW 42.17A was recodified to RCW 29B

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Description

The complaint alleged that the Spokane Home Builders Association (Association) violated RCW 42.17A by failing to disclose making in-kind contributions for political advertisements that appeared on the Association’s “jumbotron-style” electronic reader board near Interstate 90 in October 2017, in support of four 2017 city council candidates. 

On May 8, 2018, the Association filed C-6 reports 196 days after the advertisements were presented to the public and 182 days after the November 7, 2017 general election, disclosing that the Association made $1,555 in total independent expenditures undertaken for the billboard advertisements.   The C-6 reports disclosed the Association’s opposition to Proposition No. 2, and its support of the following candidates: (1) 2017 Spokane Valley City Council candidates Caleb Collier, Rod Higgins, Pam Haley, & Mike Munch; (2) 2017 Spokane City Council candidates Tim Benn & Andy Dunau; and (3) 2017 Legislative candidates Senator Shelly Short, and State Representative Jaquelin Maycumber.


The Association completed a Statement of Understanding (SOU) and paid a $150 civil penalty in accordance with WAC 390-37-143, (Brief Enforcement Penalty Schedule), in lieu of having a Brief Enforcement Hearing scheduled.  The SOU and penalty payment resolved the allegations listed in the complaint for the late filed C-6 reports. 


Documents

Penalties

None