Blakeslee, Glenn (4): Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.555 for using public resources to support a political campaign. (OCT 2018)

Case

#42717

Respondent

Glenn Blakeslee

Complainant

Jim Brandy

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the three complaints filed by Holly Jepson (PDC Cases 41960, 42389, and 42392), and the complaint filed by James Mundy (PDC Case 42717), against Glenn Blakeslee, a first-time candidate in 2018 seeking the office of Pend Oreille County Sheriff. The complaint alleged that Mr. Blakeslee, a Pend Oreille County Deputy Sheriff in 2018 may have violated RCW 42.17A.555 by using Pend Oreille County Sheriff resources to support your candidacy in 2018; and RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 by failing to disclose expenditures for political advertising in the form of newspaper and billboards on Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports).

For your information, in order to more efficiently use PDC resources, the four complaints filed against Glenn Blakeslee have been combined into one letter. PDC staff reviewed the allegation listed in the four complaints and attached exhibits, the statutes, rules and PDC Interpretation #04-02 Guidelines for Local Agencies in Election Campaigns, and the Monetary Contributions reports (C-3 reports) and C-4 reports filed by Glenn Blakeslee for Sheriff (Campaign), and the responses from Mr. Blakeslee.

PDC staff’s review found no evidence that Glenn Blakeslee used the facilities of the Pend Oreille Sheriff’s Office to support his candidacy for County Sheriff in 2018, that would require conducting a more formal investigation into your complaint or pursuing enforcement action in this instance.

While the Campaign failed to timely disclose campaign expenditure for a billboard and newspaper advertisements, Mr. Blakeslee was a first-time candidate, and the late filed expenditures were disclosed 14 days prior to the November 6, 2018 general election being held. However, as part of staff’s review and the Campaign contacting PDC Filer Assistance, there were several C-3 reports filed that included $0 contributions that needed to be amended.
In addition, and an issue in disclosing monetary contributions received from couples into the Online Reporting of Campaign Activities (ORCA) campaign finance reporting software that resulted in $3,000 (+) in un-reported contributor information, and you failed to file a missing 2018 Post-General Election C-4 report. The Campaign has filed the missing Post-General Election C-4 report and filed two amended C-3 reports totaling $1,739 and are working on filing additional amended C-3 reports to be in full compliance.

Pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(b), and with the understanding that the Blakeslee Campaign will file the necessary amended C-3 reports as soon as possible, Mr. Blakeslee is hereby formally warned concerning the failure to timely and accurately file campaign finance reports disclosing contribution and expenditure activities undertaken by his 2018 Campaign, including C-3 and C-4 reports in future years in accordance with PDC laws and rules. The formal written warning will include staff’s expectation that Mr. Blakeslee will timely file C-3 and C-4 reports, accurately disclosing his contribution and expenditure activities undertaken as a candidate in future years in accordance with PDC laws and rules. The Commission will consider the formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action if there are future violations of PDC laws or rules.

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

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

November 05, 2018

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.555

Subscribe for updates


{{statusMessage}}

To subscribe to this case, enter your email address in the form below and click "Send confirmation link" button. You will be sent a secure link via email that will confirm your subscription.


An email containing a link to confirm your subscription to this case has been sent to {{ email }}.

If you do not receive an email within a few minutes, please check your junk mail or mail filters.

Send again

{{statusMessage}}