Tharinger, Stephen: Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.235 for failure to timely and accurately file contribution and expenditure reports. (June 2018)

Case

#37137

Respondent

Stephen Tharinger

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint filed by Glen Morgan on June 20, 2018. The complaint alleged that Steve Tharinger, an incumbent State Representative from the 24th Legislative Dstrict and a candidate for re-election to that in office in 2016 and 2018, may have violated RCW 42.17A.235 for failure to timely and accurately file Monetary Contribution reports (C-3 reports), and Summary Full Report of Contributions and Expenditures (C-4 reports).

PDC staff reviewed the allegations, the C-3 and C-4 reports filed by Tharinger for State Representative Campaign (Campaign), and the response from Mr. Tharinger.

Based on these initial findings, staff has determined that in this instance, the failure to timely file C-3 and C-4 reports during the 2016 and 2018 elections does not support a finding of a material violation warranting further investigation. Several of the alleged late reports were inadvertent or minor in nature, and the late filed reports were submitted well before the election was held, so they did not materially affect the public interest.

PDC staff is reminding Steve Tharinger about the importance of the timely filing of C-3 and C-4 reports, disclosing all contribution and expenditure activities, including the timely filing of amended C-3 and C-4 reports, and the timely filings of all future PDC reports.

The PDC has closed the matter, and will not be conducting a more formal investigation into the complaint or pursuing further enforcement action in this case.

Disposition

Case Closed with Reminder

Date Opened

June 22, 2018

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235