Yes for Public Safety: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.320 for failure to accurately disclose Top 5 contributors on political advertising. (Jan 2019)

Case

#46514

Respondent

Yes for Public Safety

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

The Respondent sponsored an advertisement supporting Proposition 1 that was mailed out on January 25, 2019. The cost of the mailer was $5,200 and was timely & accurately reported by the Respondent to the PDC. The Respondent disclosed two organizations as the Top 5 Contributors on the mailer. McDaniel Projects made an in-kind contribution of $1,000 to the Respondent on January 16, 2019 and the Respondent failed to include this third contributor in its Top 5 disclosure. When it became aware of the omission, the Respondent made a good-faith effort to remedy the error by updating subsequent ads, including another mailer that was sent to a broader, overlapping audience. Based on these findings, PDC staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to include the third contributor in its Top 5 disclosure did not amount to an actual violation warranting further investigation. 

PDC reminded the Respondent about the importance of timely & accurately disclosing the Top 5 Contributors on all political advertising. The PDC dismissed the matter and did not conduct a more formal investigation into the complaint or pursue further enforcement in this case. 

Disposition

Case Closed with Reminder

Date Opened

February 05, 2019

Areas of Law

Areas of law not found

Documents

• 46514 Yes for Public Safety Complaint.pdf
• 46514 Yes for Public Safety Response.pdf
• 46514 Yes for Public Safety Reminder Letter.pdf