Peltier, Ronald: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.235 & 240 by failing to timely report contributions & expenditures. (EY '21; Aug '21)

Case

#97949

Respondent

Ron Peltier

Complainant

James R. Llewellyn

Description

A complaint was filed against Ronald Peltier, a candidate for Bainbridge City Council in 2021, alleging the 2021 Ronald Peltier Campaign (Campaign) may have violated RCW 42.17A.240 failing to timely disclose political advertising expenditures undertaken by his 2021 Campaign on Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports) for newspaper advertisements and yard signs in support of his candidacy.

On July 26, 2021, the Campaign timely filed the 7-Day Pre-Primary Election C-4 report covering the period July 13 through 26, 2021, disclosing $3,095 in monetary contributions had been received during the period, and $9.95 in expenditures had been made for non-itemized expenses of $50 or less. 

On July 26, 27, and 28, 2021, the Campaign inadvertently filed the Post-Primary Election   C-4 report and two amended Post-Primary C-4 reports covering the period July 27 through August 30, 2021.  The Post-Primary Election C-4 report was not due to have been filed until September 10, 2021 and was inadvertently filed early by mistake by the Campaign instead of filing an amended 7-Day Pre-Primary Election C-4 report.

 On September 7, 2021, the Campaign filed an amended 7-Day Pre-Primary Election C-4 report disclosing new expenditure information totaling $4,242.74, that included: (1) a $2,102.25 expenditure made to the Bainbridge Island Review on July 16, 2021, for a newspaper advertisement that ran on July 30, 2021; and (2) a $1,000 expenditure made to the Bainbridge Island Review on July 16, 2021, for banner newspaper advertisements that ran during the period July 18 through 24, 2021.

On September 7, 2021, the Campaign timely filed an amended Post-Primary Election C-4 report disclosing two in-kind contributions that included a $90 in-kind contribution from the candidate for “used coreplast signs” that he had saved from his 2015 campaign for Bainbridge City Council, and addressed one of the complaint allegations.  

Mr. Peltier stated his 2021 Campaign is using yard signs that “were purchased during my last campaign for city council, which was in 2015, and were saved and now being re-used in the current election.”   He stated there was no money spent for those yard signs this year and added there were about 20 total signs leftover from 2015.

Based on these findings, PDC staff found no evidence of a violation that would require conducting a more formal investigation into the complaint or pursuing further enforcement action in this instance.   However, pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), the PDC is issuing a formal written warning to the 2021 Ronald Peltier Campaign concerning the lack of timely and accurate filing of reports of contribution and expenditure activities undertaken by the Campaign, in accordance with RCW 42.17A.235 and .240.  

The 2021 Ronald Peltier Campaign will be advised that the Commission will consider this formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action, should there be future violations of PDC laws or rules. 
The PDC has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).  

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

September 01, 2021

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

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