Greg Cheney: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.320 for failure to provide complete sponsor identification on political advertising (EY24, MAY24)

Case

#154039

Respondent

Greg Cheney

Complainant

Wadi Yakhour

Description

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

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

• Greg Cheney filed their Candidate Registration (C-1), for State Senator of the 18th Legislative District, on April 26, 2024, for the Full Reporting option.
• You provided with your complaint a copy of a mailer from Greg Cheney, received by you on May 4, 2024.  PDC staff reviewed the evidence supplied and determined the campaign mailer is political advertisement and that it should have included complete sponsor identification as defined in WAC 390-18-010. 
• The campaign reported the political advertisement expenditure, on May 6, 2024, on C-4 #110212854, showing an order placed on April 29, 2024, and payment made also on April 29, 2024. The reporting was timely.
• In the response to the complaint, Greg Cheney wrote that once he realized the mailer did not include the required “paid for by” language, he instructed his campaign staff to contact the PDC for guidance. PDC staff instructed the campaign to disclose the expense at once so the cost of the mailer would be visible to the public.  Mr. Cheney said, “there was no intent to mislead the public.”
• The respondent does not have other similar warnings or violations of PDC requirements.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to provide complete sponsor identification on a political advertisement does not amount to a violation that calls for further investigation.

Per WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), however, Greg Cheney will receive a formal written warning concerning the requirement under RCW 42.17A.320 to provide complete sponsor identification on political advertising.  Staff expects the committee, moving forward, follow all laws, rules and PDC guidance on providing complete sponsor identification on political advertising.  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 necessary and has dismissed this matter per RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

May 17, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.320

Documents

• 154039 Greg Cheney Complaint.pdf
• 154039 Cheney_Greg Response.pdf
• 154039 Cheney_Greg Complaint Return Letter (combined).pdf