Washington Realtors Political Action Committee: Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.320, .435 for failure to disclose the top contributor, sponsor identification, and source of contributions. (OCT 2018)

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint filed by Susan Peters on October 31, 2018. The complaint alleged that the WA Realtors PAC (Committee), a political committee registered with the PDC and affiliated with the Washington Association of Realtors, may have violated RCW 42.17A.320 by failing to include the committee’s top five contributors for independent expenditure advertisements sponsored by the committee, and RCW 42.17A.435 by failing to identify contributions. 

PDC staff reviewed the allegations listed in the complaint to determine whether a formal investigation or enforcement action is warranted. Staff reviewed all the exhibits submitted with the complaint, and the December 5, 2018 response letter received via email from Mark Lamb, attorney for the WA Realtors PAC (Committee). 

While the Committee failed to include Stand for Children PAC as its top contributor in the sponsor identification as required, PDC staff found no evidence of a material violation that would require conducting a more formal investigation into your complaint or pursuing enforcement action in this instance.

However, pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(b), PDC staff issued a formal written warning to the WA Realtors PAC concerning the importance of identifying the complete sponsor identification on all political advertising including the top five contributors as required by the law. This formal written warning conveys staff’s expectation that the WA Realtors PAC will fully comply with the political advertising requirements listed above in the future as a registered political committee. The Commission will consider this formal written warning if there are any future PDC law or rule violations by the WA Realtors PAC. 

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