Clover Park Citizens for Schools: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 for failure to timely and accurately report contributions and expenditures. (EY24 OCT24)

Case

#163173

Respondent

Clover Park Citizens for Schools

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) completed its review of the complaint filed by Glen Morgan on October 16, 2024. The complaint alleged violations of RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 for failure to timely and accurately report contributions and expenditures.
Applicable Laws & Rules

• RCW 42.17A.235 describes the required filing deadlines for disclosure of campaign finance activities including monetary contributions.

• RCW 42.17A.240 describes the required contents of campaign finance reports filed with the Public Disclosure Commission.

Background & Findings

• The Respondent was a committee under full reporting that participated in the 2024 election.
• On October 16, 2024, a complaint was filed against the respondent alleging failure to provide complete expenditure details.
• On the C-4 report covering January 1, 2018, through November 30, 2023, the respondent acknowledges that they did not provide accurate expenditure details, but rather listed “researching” as the expenditure recipient.
• The report covering January 1, 2018, through November 30, 2023, was filed at staff’s request as part of PDC Case 153195.
• In their response to the complaint, the respondent explained that the reason for the incomplete expenditure details was obstacles in obtaining the records due to the Umpqua-Columbia Bank merger. 
• The expenditures in question are outside of the statute of limitations for PDC enforcement. Despite this, the Respondent has amended the report in question to include the recipient of the expenditures.
• This $617.40 expenditure cited in the complaint accurately reports the payment made to the Public Disclosure Commission as part of the resolution of PDC Case 153195 in which the Respondent agreed to a statement of understanding and paid a $600 penalty. The additional $17.40 comes from a payment processing fee applied through an online payment processing system.

Summary and Resolution

Having reviewed the complaint and the supporting evidence, PDC staff has determined that the evidence provided does not support a violation of RCW 42.17A.

Based on this information, the PDC has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).
 

Disposition

Case Closed with No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

December 04, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

Documents

• 163173 Clover Park Citizens for Schools PAC Response.pdf
• 163173 Clover Park Citizens for Schools Resolution Letter.pdf
• 163173 Clover Park Citizens for Schools PAC Complaint.pdf