Steven Rader Jr: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.710 for failure to disclose business interests on the candidate F-1 (EY24 OCT24)

Case

#160194

Respondent

Steven Rader Jr.

Complainant

James M Bain II

Description

PDC staff reviewed the allegation listed in the complaint; the information submitted with the complaint, the relevant statute(s) and rules, the response to the complaint, and other relevant information to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations. 

Applicable Laws & Rules

• Pursuant to RCW 42.17A.700, a candidate is required to file a Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1 report) with the PDC within two weeks of becoming a candidate that discloses personal financial information for themselves and their spouse or registered domestic partner, if any, for the twelve months preceding candidacy. 
• Per RCW 42.17A.710, the content of the F-1 report includes, but is not limited to, the following information: o 
• income of $2,400 or more; and
• financial assets and interest income (bank and savings accounts and insurance policies greater than $24,000 and investments greater than $2,400; and
• Washington State real estate valued at more than $12,000; and
• debt of $2,400 or more, business and organizational interests.

Background & Findings

Based on this review, staff found the following:

• The Respondent is a 2024 candidate for Cowlitz County Commissioner.  He filed a Candidate Registration (C-1) on March 20, 2024, 2024.  The Respondent took part in the 2024 Primary election and qualified for the 2024 General election.
• The Respondent filed a Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1) covering the twelve-month period preceding his candidacy (March 20, 2023, to March 19, 2024) on March 21, 2024. 
• The Respondent’s campaign has provided a statement indicating “the construction business referenced by the complainant was purchased by the candidate many months after he filed his F1 in March of 2024.”
• PDC staff reviewed the Washington Secretary of State’s corporations filing for B & B Overhead Door Specialist LLC and determined the Respondent was not the owner of the business during the reporting period for the candidate F-1.
• Per RCW 42.17A.700(5) “no individual may be required to file more than once in any calendar year.”  There is no requirement to amend an F-1 report to reflect new information that falls outside the required reporting period. 
• The Respondent does not have any previous warnings or violations of similar PDC requirements.

Based on this information, the PDC finds that no further action is warranted and has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1) and WAC 390-37-060(1)(a). 

Disposition

Case Closed with No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

October 07, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.710

Documents

• 160194 Steven Rader Jr Complaint.pdf
• 160194 Rader_Steven Response.pdf
• 160194 Rader_Steven Complaint Return Letter (combined).pdf