Hallock, Elizabeth (4): Alleged violations of RCW 42.17A.205 and .235 for failure to timely register as a candidate and report contributions and expenditures.

Case

#60723

Respondent

Liz Hallock

Complainant

Kenton Gartrell

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint filed on December 9, 2019. The complaint alleged that Elizabeth Hallock, a candidate for Yakima City Council, Position 4 in 2019 may have violated: (1) RCW 42.17A.205 for failure to timely file a Candidate Registration report (C-1 report) within two weeks of becoming a candidate in the 2019 election; and (2) RCW 42.17A.235 for failure to timely and accurately file Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports), disclosing in-kind contributions made by the candidate to her 2019 campaign.

PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the applicable PDC reports filed by 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.

Pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(f), Elizabeth Hallock completed a Statement of Understanding (SOU) and paid a $300 civil penalty in accordance with WAC 390-37-143 (Brief Enforcement Penalty Schedule), acknowledging violations of RCW 42.17A.235 for failing to timely file the 21-Day Pre-Primary C-4 report; and (2) failing to timely file the 7-Day Pre-Primary Election C-4 report during the 2019 election. The $300 assessed penalty resolves these allegations.

During its investigation, staff found that some of the descriptions for in-kind contributions made by the candidate, Elizabeth Hallock, to the 2019 Liz Hallock for Yakima City Council campaign were insufficient. Pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), Ms. Hallock will receive a formal written warning concerning her failure to include adequate detail for expenditures made directly to vendors using personal funds and disclosed as in-kind contributions. The formal written warning will include staff’s expectation that Ms. Hallock will use RCW 42.17A.240 and WAC 390-16-037 as a guide for descriptions of expenditure activities disclosed as in-kind contributions, on future reports. The Commission will consider the formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action if there are future violations of PDC laws or rules.

The complaint included evidence showing that Elizabeth Hallock publicly announced her candidacy for Yakima City Council, in the online version of the Yakima Herald on January 25, 2019 and alleged that she had violated RCW 42.17A.205 by failing to timely file the C-1 report registering her campaign with the PDC. Staff found that Ms. Hallock’s C-1 was timely submitted on January 31, 2019 and is dismissing this allegation in accordance with WAC 390-37-070.

Disposition

Resolved through Statement of Understanding

Date Opened

December 03, 2019

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.205, RCW 42.17A.235

Documents

Penalties

Total penalties: $300

Balance Due: $0

Elizabeth Hallock

Penalty

$300

Payments

$300 on 02/26/2020 (Paid - Resolved through Statement of Understanding)