McCarter, RoseLynne: Alleged Violations of RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 for failure to timely and accurately disclose contributions and expenditures on reports (EY23, Feb24)

Case

#151258

Respondent

McCarter, RoseLynne

Complainant

Conner Edwards

Description

Pursuant to the brief enforcement hearing (brief adjudicative proceeding) notice sent to RoseLynne McCarter on April 7, 2025, a brief adjudicative proceeding was held on May 1, 2025, remotely from Olympia, WA by live audio and online transmission, to consider whether the Respondent violated RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 by failing to file or timely file, as a candidate for the 2023 election cycle, a mandatory post-general election C-4 report. The C-4 report, disclosing campaign expenditures, was due to be filed not later than December 11, 2023.

Having considered the evidence, the Presiding Officer finds as follows:

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. The Respondent was a candidate for School Director of Seattle School Dist 001.
2. As a candidate for election, the Respondent was required to file a post-general election C-4 report by December 11, 2023.
3. The Respondent did not file the C-4 report by the date of the enforcement hearing.   
4. The Respondent has no prior violations.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

 Based on the above facts, as a matter of law, the Presiding Officer concludes as follows:

1. This matter was duly and properly convened, and all jurisdictional, substantive, and procedural requirements have been satisfied.
2. The Respondent violated RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 by failing to file the post-general election C-4 report by December 11, 2023.

ORDER

ON the basis of the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Respondent is assessed a civil penalty of $250, in accordance with the C-4 penalty schedule set forth in WAC 390-37-143. 

It is further ordered that $150 of the $250 penalty is suspended on the condition that the Respondent:

1. Pay the $100 unsuspended portion of the civil penalty within 30 days of the date of this Order.
2. File the missing C-4 report within 30 days of the date of this Order. 
3. It is further ordered that, if the Respondent fails to comply with any of the above conditions:
   1. The full $250 penalty shall immediately become due without further action by the Commission and PDC Staff is directed to refer the matter to collections and/or commence other legal proceedings as authorized by RCW 42.17A and 390 WAC.

In the event the Respondent fails to pay the civil penalty, PDC staff is directed to refer the matter to collections or to seek a court order compelling compliance with this Order.  

Any allegations regarding reporting by the Respondent for the 2023 campaign that are not otherwise addressed here are hereby dismissed.

Disposition

Violation Found by Commission

Date Opened

April 02, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

Documents

• 151258 McCarter RoseLynne Complaint.pdf
• Initial-hearing-results-respondent.pdf
• 151258 RoseLynne McCarter BAP Hearing Notice.pdf
• 151258 RoseLynne McCarter BAP Order.pdf

Penalties