Our Region PAC (3): Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.235, .240 for failure to timely and accurately report expenditures, loans and contributions (EY20, Oct20)

Case

#77589

Respondent

OUR REGION PAC

Complainant

Joe Hyer

Description

A complaint was filed against Our Region PAC, a new 2020 political committee registered with the PDC, alleging that Our Region PAC may have violated RCW 42.17A.240 by failing to properly disclose committee loans and loan repayments made during the 2020 election cycle.  

On July 13, 2020, Our Region PAC (ORP) filed two Monetary Contributions reports (C-3 reports) disclosing a $10,000 contribution had been received from Responsible Economic Growth in Our Neighborhood PAC - Region PAC on July 10, 2020, and a $100 monetary loan had been received from Jon Petit.   

On July 28, 2020, ORP timely filed the 7-Day Pre-Primary Election Summary Contribution and Expenditures report (C-4 report) covering the period July 14 through 27, 2020, and disclosing no contributions had been received, and that $6,071 in total expenditures had been made during the period.  The C-4 report disclosed ORP made two $100 expenditures on July 21, 2020, with the descriptions “LOAN REPAYMENT” and “Repay Loan” and the Loan document Schedule L, Part 2 listed one $100 loan repayment made to Mr. Petit with $0 still owed.  However, Schedule L, Part 4 listed a $100 loan as the loan amount still owed to Mr. Petit.

Mr. Petit stated he made only one $100 loan, and that he received only one $100 loan repayment from ORP (check #1003). stated that he inadvertently made a duplicate entry for the loan repayment into the Online Reporting of Campaign Activity (ORCA) program, and there was no second $100 loan or loan repayment. 

On December 3, 2020, Mr. Petit filed an amended 7-Day Pre-Primary Election C-4 report, deleting the second $100 loan repayment expenditure that he had inadvertently entered into the ORCA program for ORP.

For the 2020 election cycle, Our Region PAC disclosed receiving $10,100 in total monetary contributions, $9,633.90 in total expenditures made, with a cash on hand balance of $466.10.  The $100 loan repayment that was inadvertently duplicated by Mr. Petit was not a material amount compared to the overall total committee activity, and the public was not denied of any campaign finance information since the loan repayment was actually listed twice. 

Based on this information, PDC staff found no evidence that would constitute a material violation that would require conducting a more formal investigation into the complaint or pursuing any enforcement action in this instance.  The PDC has dismissed this complaint in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1). 

Disposition

Case Closed with No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

October 05, 2020

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

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