Rolfes, Christine: Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.235, .240, for failure to accurately and timely report contributions, expenditures, and debt. (NOV 17)

Case

#28238

Respondent

Christine Rolfes

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint Glen Morgan filed on November 30, 2017. The complaint alleged that Christine Rolfes, a 2016 candidate for Washington State Senator may have violated RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 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; and RCW 42.17A.235 and WAC 390-16-037 for failure to properly disclose expenditure detail on C-4 reports. 

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.

Effective June 7, 2018, the standard for reporting debts and obligations in RCW 42.17A.240(8) has changed. Now, the debt reporting threshold is raised to $750 for any invoices submitted, goods received, or services received. Once a qualifying debt is outstanding for 5 business days in the period 30 days before the election, or 10 business days during any other period, and is past due as of the last day of the reporting period, it must be reported as an outstanding debt or obligation.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to timely and accurately report contribution and expenditure activity does not amount to violations that warrant further investigation.

However, PDC staff is reminding Christine Rolfes about the importance of the timely and accurate disclosure of all contribution and expenditure activities, and the timely and accurate filings of all future PDC reports in accordance with the statutes 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

December 09, 2017

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

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