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September 08, 2025
This summer, the Washington Public Disclosure Commission conducted enforcement hearings for about 130 candidates for the 2025 election who had failed to timely file their campaign registrations (C-1), personal financial affairs statements (F-1), or both, within two weeks of beginning their campaigns as is required by state law.
At its Aug. 28 regular meeting, the Commission issued a fine of $6,000 to Adam Smith, a candidate for Spokane Valley City Council, for failing to file both his C-1 and F-1 for the 2025 election. Smith has two prior cases, in 2021 and 2023, in which he was found in violation for failing to file the same reports. The Commission suspended $2,000 of the $6,000 fine on the condition that Smith files the missing reports and pays the remainder of the fine within 30 days, among other conditions.
At the Commission’s July regular meeting, two other cases were considered.
Brett Johnson, a candidate for Pierce County Charter Review Commissioner, failed to file both the C-1 and F-1 within two weeks of becoming a candidate, on May 9, 2025. Johnson has two prior violations: for failing to file the F-1 in 2021 while a candidate for Tacoma City Council, and for failing to file an F-1 in 2022 while running for the state House of Representatives.
The 2021 report has since been filed but the 2022 report remains outstanding. PDC commissioners found Johnson in violation for the two missing reports from election year 2025 and issued a fine of $2,500 for each violation, for a total of $5,000, with half suspended on the condition that he file all missing reports and pay fines within 30 days, among other conditions.
Michael Luzzo, a candidate for school director for the Kennewick School District, also failed to file a C-1 or F-1 for the 2025 election within two weeks of becoming a candidate. Luzzo has one prior violation, from 2021, for failing to file the same reports. The Commission imposed a penalty of $1,000 for each violation, or $2,000 total, with half suspended provided all fines are paid and reports filed within 30 days, among other conditions.
A few more candidates charged with failing to file these reports, who have past violations, are scheduled to come before the Commission in September.
Previously, during June hearings, PDC Chair J Leach issued more than $41,000 in penalties to about 130 different candidates. Staff issued 241 hearing notices to candidates for these alleged violations in 2025, compared to 173 in 2023, the previous local election year. Cases charged that didn't go to brief enforcement hearings were either settled with statements of understanding (in which the respondent admitted to a violation) or closed by staff for other reasons.
PDC staff have also initiated new cases against 49 candidates for failure to file mandatory pre-primary reports (C-4 reports) detailing their contribution and expenditure activity.