Schmig, Scott: Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.555 for using public facilities to support or promote a political campaign. (MAY 2018)

Case

#35940

Respondent

Scott Schmig

Complainant

Vicki Heimark

Description

A complaint was filed against Scott Schmig, an employee in the Grant County Treasurer’s Office and a candidate for Grant County Assessor in 2018, alleging that he may have violated RCW 42.17A.555 by using Grant County facilities to support his 2018 candidacy for public office.

PDC staff's review found that Scott Schmig was a first-time candidate for public office, has had no prior PDC violations, and no additional complaints or allegations filed against him as a candidate during the 2018 elections, and he was not elected into office.

The evidence provided as the basis of your complaint, involved the complainant standing in the Grant County Treasurer’s Office as a customer and overhearing a telephone conversation that Mr. Schmig was engaged in with a caller. Under PDC laws and rules, the evidence provided doesn’t establish a violation of RCW 42.17A. warranting further investigation or enforcement action.

PDC staff has reminded Scott Schmig about the prohibitions against using the facilities of a public agency to support or oppose a candidate or ballot proposition, or his candidacy should he become a candidate for public office again in the future.

Based on this information, the PDC has dismissed the complaint in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Reminder

Date Opened

May 29, 2018

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.555