Bird, Misipati Semi: Alleged violation of WAC 390-16-105, RCW 42.17A.235 & .240 by exceeding $5,000 mini-reporting contribution limit & failing to report contributions & expenditures. (EY '21; Aug '21)

Case

#97850

Respondent

Misipati Semi Bird

Complainant

Brigid C Nelson

Description

This complaint alleged that Misipati Semi Bird (the “Respondent”), a candidate for School Director for Richland School District 400, may have violated WAC 390-16-105 by raising more than $5,000, thereby exceeding the mini-reporting contribution limit. The complaint also alleged that the Respondent may have violated RCW 42.17A.235 & .240 by failing to report contributions and expenditures, as required for a candidate that no longer qualifies for the mini-reporting option.

PDC staff reviewed the allegations and the filing history of the Respondent and found the following:

The Respondent requested a change from Mini to Full Reporting for his campaign committee on 6/12/21. Part of this process involves reporting past contributions & expenditures on C-3 & C-4 reports.

The Respondent's campaign filed several reports between 5/20/21 - 7/15/21, indicating the Respondent made a series of in-kind contributions/loans and direct in-kind contributions to his own campaign, which were expended for campaign signs, printing, and Presscats. The manner in which this information was initially disclosed on reports gave the erroneous impression that the candidate's campaign had exceeded the Mini Reporting limits, when in fact it had not.

The Respondent's campaign worked with PDC staff to amend the reported information, making the necessary technical corrections, and the change from Mini to Full Reporting was approved by the PDC on 8/27/21.

Disposition

Resolved with Technical Correction

Date Opened

August 30, 2021

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240, WAC 390-16-105