Burch, Patrick: Alleged violations of Chapter 42.17A RCW for unauthorized transfer of candidate funds to another candidate, failure to report independent expenditures, and failure to disclose complete sponsor identification (EY 19; Oct 19)

Case

#59360

Respondent

Patrick Burch

Complainant

Bradley Mertens

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint Bradley Mertens filed on October 29, 2019. The complaint alleged that Patrick Burch, a 2019 candidate for Fire Commissioner for Spokane Fire Protection District 01, may have violated RCW 42.17A.430 for unauthorized contributions from active candidate funds to support other candidate campaigns; RCW 42.17A.255 for failure to disclose independent expenditures in support of other candidate campaigns; RCW 42.17A.320 for failure to disclose proper sponsor identification on political advertising.

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, failure to timely receive reimbursement for a joint expenditure within two business days, and failure to disclose sponsor identification on a candidate campaign Facebook page, do not amount to violations that warrant further investigation.

PDC staff is reminding Patrick Burch about the importance of timely receiving reimbursement for joint expenditures and completely and accurately disclosing sponsor identification on political advertising. PDC staff expects Patrick Burch to timely, completely, and accurately comply with PDC laws and rules in the future.

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

October 29, 2019

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.255, RCW 42.17A.430

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