Spurling, Ryan: Alleged Violations of RCW 42.17A.555 for misuse of public facilities to support a candidate in a video (EY24, Feb24)

Case

#150080

Respondent

Ryan Spurling

Complainant

Terry Parker, Alyssa Duarte, Mike Curtis

Description

PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes and rules; the response(s) provided by the Respondent; and other relevant information, to determine whether the record supports a funding of one or more violations.

Based on staff’s review, we found the following:

• Ryan Spurling is presently the elected Sheriff of Mason County.
• It was alleged that Sheriff Ryan Spurling, as an elected official, violated RCW 42.17A.555 by causing the misuse of public facilities when he participated in a Zoom call and interview that resulted in materials used for an endorsement video promoting the candidacy of Dave Reichert in election year 2024 for Washington State Governor.
• RCW 42.17A.555 prohibits public officials and agencies from using or authorizing the use of facilities, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of promoting or opposing candidates or ballot propositions/measures.  Facilities of a public office or agency include, but are not limited to, use of stationery, postage, machines and equipment, use of employees of the office or agency during working hours, vehicles, office space, publications of the office or agency, and clientele lists of persons served by the office or agency.  This prohibition does not apply to activities that are part of the normal and regular conduct of the public/local agency, as defined in WAC 390-05-273.
• PDC Interpretation No. 04-02 states, in part, that local government elected officials may engage in political activities on their own time, if there is no use of public equipment, vehicle, or facility.  An elected official may use their title so long as they clarify that they are speaking on their own behalf, and not on behalf of the agency. They may also attend events and voice their opinion about a candidate or ballot proposition if they are not compensated and are not using any public equipment, vehicle, or other facility.  A 2015 staff analysis is also available to help public agencies to determine if an activity is permitted.
• PDC staff’s review found that Sheriff Spurling does appear, along with other Washington state sheriffs, in an endorsement video for Dave Reichert’s 2024 campaign for Washington State Governor.  The Reichert campaign developed the video materials from a recorded interview conducted via a Zoom call.
  • Sheriff Spurling does not remember communicating with the Reichert campaign using his county email.
  • The interview occurred while Sheriff Spurling was in a county Sheriff’s facility office, which is a misuse of public facilities.  He did however use his own phone and thinks he used his data plan while taking the Zoom call.  He said, “I know in the past, the [county] wifi has been too weak for video, I have had to use data in other circumstances.”
  • In the video, the Sheriff is in a cowboy hat that looks like the hat worn with his official Sheriff’s uniform, but the hat is his personal apparel.  The Sheriff was not in a county owned Sheriff’s uniform during the interview.
  • The video uses an overlay depicting the Mason County Sheriff’s office shield and title.  The sheriffs in the video did not supply the video overlay used to depict their county Sheriff’s office shield or title.
• In his response to the PDC, Sheriff Spurling, said his department has written guidance to help staff follow RCW 42.17A.555. The Sheriff added, “I am new to this and I want to make sure I am doing things according to the rules so if you have any recommendations for the future, I am open to coaching.” 
• The PDC has contacted the Reichert4Governor campaign and requested the voluntary removal of the endorsement video because it is promotional of the campaign and includes elected Washington state sheriffs who in some cases are in county issued uniforms or using public facilities.  The campaign has not responded to the PDC’s request.
• The Respondent does not have other similar warnings or violations of PDC requirements.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance, the evidence does not support a finding of a violation that warrants further investigation. 

However, per WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), Sheriff Spurling will receive a formal written warning concerning the misuse of public facilities to support a political candidate.  If violations of PDC laws or rules occur in the future, the Commission will consider this formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action.

Based on this information, the PDC finds that no further action is necessary and has dismissed this complaint per RCW 42.17A.755(1)(a).

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

March 14, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.555

Documents

• 150080 Spurling Ryan Complaint 1.pdf
• 150080 Spurling Ryan Complaint 2.pdf
• 150080 Spurling Ryan Complaint 3.pdf
• 150080 Spurling_Ryan Response.pdf
• 150080 Spurling_Ryan Complaint Return Letter (combined).pdf