Rollins, Mary: Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.235, .240 for failure to timely and accurately file contribution and expenditure reports. (Sep 2018)

Dear Sidney M Logan II: 

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint filed by Sidney Logal II on September 14, 2018. The Complaint alleged that Mary Rollins, a candidate seeking the office of Public Utility Commissioner in Snohomish County, may have violated RCW 42.17A.235 and RCW 42.17A.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. 

PDC staff reviewed the allegations, the statutes and rules, the initial and amended C-3 and C-4 reports filed by the Campaign, and the responses from Mary Rollins. 

Based on our findings and the following facts, staff has determined that in this instance, the failure to timely and accurately file the contribution and expenditure reports does not amount to a material violation warranting further investigation since: (1) The Mary Rollins Campaign was inexperienced with the campaign finance reporting requirements; (2) The late filed C-4 reports for the 7-Day Pre-Primary Election and 21-Day Pre-Primary Election involved no contributions received and no expenditures made. (3) Mary Rollins took corrective action after being notified of the noncompliance and did not win the election. (4) The total contributions received and expenditures made by the Campaign did not exceed $5,000. 

PDC Staff is reminding Mary Rollins about the importance of the timely disclosure of all contribution and expenditure activities, including the filing fee, 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 your complaint or pursuing further enforcement action in this case.