Friends of Selah: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 for failure to timely and accurately report contributions and expenditures (EY26, JUN24)

Case

#156307

Respondent

Friends of Selah

Complainant

Conner Edwards

Description

PDC staff reviewed the allegations and evidence you submitted; the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the response(s) provided by Friends of Selah (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.

Applicable Laws & Rules

• Per RCW 42.17A.235 and .240, under the Full Reporting option, a committee is required to disclose contribution and expenditure information by submitting Receipts and Expenditure Summary (C-4) reports and Cash Receipts, Monetary Contributions (C-3) reports to the PDC.  The Committee’s due dates for the C-3 and C-4 reports are determined by its activity and participation in the election cycle.
  • RCW 42.17A.235(3)(a) indicates a C-4 report is due each month “if the committee has received a contribution or made an expenditure in the preceding calendar month and either the total contributions received, or the total expenditures made since the last such report exceed $750.”

Background & Findings 

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

• The Respondent filed a Political Committee Registration (C-1pc) on March 02, 2023, for the Full Reportion Option.  The campaign is for the 2026 February election supporting a levy, bond, or advisory vote.
• Upon being notified about the complaint, the committee Treasurer worked with PDC staff to file and amend many reports.  All total, there were eleven C-3 reports filed late before the complaint was filed, five C-3 reports filed late after the complaint was filed, and two C-4 reports filed late after the complaint was filed.
• The Respondent has addressed reporting issues for C-3 and C-4 reports for the period of April 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024.  As of the August reporting, the campaign showed a starting balance of $3,436.71, contributions totaling $1,951, and expenditures of $54.
• The Respondent does not have previous warnings or violations of similar PDC requirements.

Summary and Resolution

Based on this information, the PDC finds that this matter does not warrant further investigation and has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), however, Friends of Selah will receive a formal written warning concerning the committee’s failure to timely and accurately disclose all contribution and expenditure activity. The formal written warning will include staff’s expectation that Friends of Selah timely files all future required reports of contributions and expenditures.  The Commission will consider the formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action if there are future violations of PDC laws or rules.

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

July 08, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

Documents

• 156307 Friends of Selah Complaint.pdf
• 156307 Friends of Selah Response.pdf
• 156307 Friends of Selah Complaint Return Letter (combined).pdf