Commission meeting highlights: July 2026
Commission issues $3,800 for improper reporting after candidate funds and reports non-campaign events through campaign account
At its July 23, 2026, meeting, the Public Disclosure found that Rachel Best-Campbell, a former Woodinville City Council member who lost her bid for reelection in 2025, had incorrectly reported $50,000 in contributions and expenditures, and had failed to provide correct sponsor ID on an advertisement.
Best-Campbell and PDC staff presented a stipulated agreement to the violation, which was accepted by the Commission.
Best-Campell reported that she made two $25,000 contributions to her campaign account, which were then used to fund two non-campaign events, which were reported on PDC filings.
Best-Campbell told the Commission at the July meeting that she suspected voters would think the events – a book launch and a Woodinville family day event – were intended to support her campaign, even though they were not political in nature and did not mention her campaign. She said she reported the events through her PDC filings to show the events were not campaign-related in the interest of transparency.
PDC staff argued the activity constituted improper reporting and potentially confused the public about the size of Best-Campbell's campaign.
While Best-Campbell stipulated to the facts and the violations, she and her attorney Dan Brady did not agree to a penalty. The Commission issued a fine of $900 for each of four incorrect reports, for a total of $3,600, with half suspended provided the fine is paid within 30 days and Best-Campbell has no further violations for the next four years.
The Commission issued a further fine of $200 for another violation, related to incorrect sponsor identification on a campaign advertisement.
Repeat violators fined more than $20,000 for failing to file personal financial affairs statements.
The PDC found violations against four officials who have repeatedly failed to file personal financial affairs statements, or F-1 reports, as required by law.
Elected and some appointed officials are required by state law to file F-1 reports, annually by April 15. New candidates must also file the report within two weeks of beginning their campaigns. The reports include general information about a person’s income, debt, real estate owned in Washington and business ownership, among other information, and are intended to reveal potential conflicts of interest.
Candidates and officials who do not file these reports are subject to enforcement action.
Melissa Stearns, a Shelton City Council member, was found in violation for failing to file F-1 reports for calendar years 2024 and 2025. She has one prior violation for failing to file the report for calendar year 2023.
The Commission issued a fine of $6,000 total, with half suspended on the condition that she pays the unsuspended portion and files the missing reports within 30 days.
Scott Mason, an Enumclaw School Board director, was issued the same fine, also for failing to file his annual F-1s for calendar years 2024 and 2025. Neither report had been filed as of the date of the hearing. Mason has a previous violation for failing to file the report in 2023.
Marlin Fryberg Jr., a commissioner for Snohomish County Fire District 15, was also found in violation and issued the same penalty as the previous two officials for failing to file F-1 reports for calendar years 2024 and 2025. He has past violations for failing to file F-1s in for 2022 and 2023.
The fourth case concerned Jennifer Bumpus, a Monroe School Board director, for failing to file the F-1 for calendar years 2024 and 2025. She has one prior instance of the same violation.
In this case, the respondent filed all missing reports prior to the hearing, and submitted written comment both explaining and taking responsibility for the missed reports. The Commission issued a fine of $500 per violation, with half suspended on the condition the fines are paid within 30 days of the order.
In the final case, Anthony Berkley, a King County Hospital District 1 commissioner, was also found in violation for failing to file F-1 reports for 2024 and 2025. He has one prior instance of the same violation.
Both reports were filed prior to the hearing. The Commission issued a penalty of $600 per violation, with half suspended on the condition the fines are paid within 30 days of the order.
Commission affirms violation, fine in ‘Wenatchee Record’ political mailer
The Commission denied a petition to review and reconsider a finding against Glenn Dobbs for political advertising he sponsored.
At an enforcement hearing on May 21, Dobbs was found in violation of requirements to file a report of an independent expenditure, or C-6 report, and to provide adequate sponsor identification on political advertising mailed in January 2025.
This is the second time Dobbs has been the subject of a PDC complaint regarding pre-election mailers dubbed “The Wenatchee Record,” and styled to look like a newspaper. The previous complaint, in 2023, was dismissed with a warning.
Dobbs’ attorney, Conner Edwards, argued that the mailer did not constitute political advertisement, and should not be subject to the filing and sponsor requirements.
The Commission affirmed a $1,000 fine, which was suspended in its entirety on the condition that Dobbs file the C-6 and have no further violations for the next four years.
Commission denies request to reopen rulemaking on penalties
The Commission denied a petition requesting rule changes to the agency’s policies for recommended fines for violations of campaign disclosure laws, specifically those involving escalating penalties for repeat violations.
Currently, the agency’s penalty schedule sets progressively higher penalties for repeat violations involving the same area of law. However, a filer could violate difference subsections of campaign law and have each occurrence treated as a first offense.
Campaign treasurer Conner Edwards submitted a rulemaking petition requesting that the agency change its rules to consider violations under different areas of law repeat violations, resulting in higher penalties for filers who violate different aspects of the law.
In 2025, the Commission approved updates to the agency’s penalty schedule – an outline of recommended penalties. The Commission is not bound by these guidelines, and can impose fines of up to $10,000 per violation.
Staff noted that the petitioner had the opportunity to propose these changes during the 2025 rulemaking process, but was now advocating for changes that would require much of the rule to be rewritten again, just six months later. Staff advised the commission to deny the petition.
The Commission voted unanimously to deny the petition.
Staff, Commission review recent Supreme Court campaign finance decision
PDC general counsel Sean Flynn gave a brief analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in National Republican Senate Committee v. Federal Elections Commission. The court struck down federal contribution limits for political parties spending in coordination with a candidate, ruling that they violated rights to free political speech under the first amendment.
Washington state’s campaign finance laws also include contribution limits for this type of activity. The court’s ruling argued that other aspects of federal campaign finance law already protect against corruption or circumvention laws providing a monetary limit direct contributions to candidate.
Flynn said it would be premature to speculate on the effects of the decision on Washington law, but said the PDC is continuing to monitor discussions on the implications. He said the from the PDC’s perspective, any change must preserve the integrity of contribution limits on direct contributions. Changes to Title 29B RCW, Washington’s campaign finance law, must be made by the state Legislature.
Agency works to define 2027 legislative priorities
Flynn and PDC Deputy Director Kim Bradford briefed the Commission on a handful of legislative priorities staff have identified for the 2027 legislative session, which begins in January.
Flynn presented a memo to the Commission regarding 2026 legislative session topics relevant to the PDC that could reappear in 2027.
The PDC requested a bill in the 2026 session that would have increased reporting requirements leading up to elections. The bill had support, particularly in the Senate, but ultimately did not pass. Flynn said it’s possible that issue could return in the coming year.
Legislators could also take another look at increasing protections for officials’ addresses and personal information. A bill was introduced in 2026 to redact this information from state records, such as PDC filings, but those changes did not pass.
Regulations on political contributions from foreign nationals could also again be a subject of legislation, Flynn said.
The agency will also keep a close eye on the state budget, and its effect on the PDC’s finances.
Enforcement report
During the month of June, the PDC received 136 new complaints. As of July 1, the agency has 177 active compliance cases, 71 that had been open for more than a year. Between July 1 and 20, the agency received another 98 complaints.
Also during June, the agency resolved 53 cases, including two closed with no evidence of a violation, four with reminders, nine with written warnings, one with an SOU, two violations found by the commission, 10 resolved with the complaint publication process and 25 technical corrections.
The technical corrections were the product of an initiative to identify cases eligible for an expedited path to resolution. The expedited process is focused on curing minor reporting deficiencies and providing education to promote future compliance.
Cases closed in June involved two judicial candidates, 23 local candidates, two cases for a lobbyist, 24 for political committees and two public agencies or public employees.
Heading into July, staff opened cases against 159 respondents regarding missing personal financial affairs statements, or F-1 reports. PDC staff offered the respondents a chance to resolve the case by filing the missing report, admitting to a violation and paying a $200 penalty.