Gurel Lance: Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.445 for misuse of campaign funds for personal use; .240 for failure to provide expenditure details on required reports (C-4); .320 for failure to include sponsor identification on political advertising (EY 19, Sept 19)

Case

#57244

Respondent

Lance Gurel

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint Glen Morgan filed on September 9, 2019. The complaint alleged that Lance Gurel (Respondent), a candidate for City Council Member for City of Spokane Valley may have violated RCW 42.17A.235, .240 for failure to accurately file Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports) disclosing details of expenditures undertaken by the Campaign; RCW 42.17A.320 for failure to include sponsor identification on political advertising; RCW 42.17A.445 for misuse of campaign funds for personal use.

PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the responses provided by the Respondent; the applicable PDC reports filed by the Respondent; and queried the Respondent’s data in the PDC contribution and expenditure database, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance for failure to accurately file Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports) disclosing details of expenditures undertaken by the Campaign and failure to include sponsor identification on political advertising does not amount to a violation that warrants further investigation.

PDC staff is reminding Lance Gurel about the importance of the complete and accurate disclosure of all expenditure activities, as well as the full disclosure of sponsor identification on political advertising, and the importance of future timely, complete and accurate filings of all PDC reports and sponsor identification disclosures in accordance with the statutes and rules.

Based on this information, the PDC finds that no further action is warranted and has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Reminder

Date Opened

September 10, 2019

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.445, WAC 390-16-238