King County Republican Central Committee: Alleged violations of Chapter 42.17A RCW for failure to accurately and timely report contributions, expenditures, employers, committee officers, and for unauthorized expenditures (Feb 18)

Case

#30820

Respondent

King County Republican Central Committee

Complainant

Washington State Democratic Party

Description

A complaint was filed against the King County Republican Party (Committee), a Bona fide County political party committee, alleging the Committee may have violated RCW 42.17A and WAC 390 by failing to: (1) timely and accurately file Monetary Contributions reports (C-3 reports) and Summary Full Campaign Contributions and Expenditures reports disclosing contribution and expenditure details undertaken by the Committee during calendar years 2016 and 2017; (2) disclose the occupation and employer for individuals that contributed more than $100 to the Committee; (3) provide the proper expenditures details and description; and (4) list the Committee Officers on the Committee Registration (C-1pc reports), and the individuals authorized to make expenditures on behalf of the Committee.

Staff's review found the following:

In 2016 the Committees Non-Exempt Funds Account disclosed $671,559 in total contributions received that included $41,091 in funds carried forward from 2015 and made $633,756 in total expenditures in 2016 with a $37,803 cash on hand balance. The Committee’s Exempt Funds Account disclosed receiving $748,090 in total contributions received that included $12,860 in funds carried forward from 2016 and made $743,341 in total expenditures with a $4,749 cash on hand balance.
In 2017 the Committees Non-Exempt Funds Account disclosed receiving a total of $247,394 in total contributions received that included $37,803 in funds carried forward from 2016, made $230,731 in total expenditures made with a $16,663 cash on hand balance. The Committee’s Exempt Funds Account disclosed receiving $312,930 in total contributions in 2017 that included $4,750 in funds carried forward from 2016, made $303.513 in total expenditures with a $9,779 cash on hand balance.
The Committee received 1,346 separate contributions from individuals or persons in 2016 to its Non-Exempt Funds account, and 806 separate contributions from individuals or persons in 2017 to its Non-Exempt Funds account.

Except for the Washington State Republican and Democratic parties’ political committees, the King County Republican Party Committee is one of the largest political party organizations in Washington State.

Based on these findings and the facts that: (1) the late filed reports, expenditure details, and missing contributor information for the six individuals listed in the complaint involved a small percentage of the overall contribution and expenditure activities undertaken by the Committee in 2016 and 2017, and (2) the Committee substantially complied with the reporting requirements for calendar years 2016 and 2017 by timely filing all of its C-4 reports for both the Exempt and Non-Exempt Funds accounts, and the overwhelming majority of the C-3 reports, staff has determined that in this instance, the facts do not warrant further investigation or any enforcement action.

However, PDC staff is reminding the King County Republican Party about the importance of filing timely and accurate C-3 and C-4 reports in the future, including providing the required details for expenditures and the employer and occupation information for individuals that contribute more than $100, in accordance with PDC laws, rules and reporting requirements.

The PDC has dismissed the complaint in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Reminder

Date Opened

February 07, 2018

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.220, RCW 42.17A.425, WAC 390-16-034