Walla Walla County Democratic Central Committee Allegation: Violations of RCW 42.17A.235, and .240 for failure to timely and accurately disclose contributions & expenditures on reports (EY25 MAR25)

Case

#169725

Respondent

WALLA WALLA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE (WWCDCC)

Complainant

Conner Edwards

Description

Walla Walla County Democratic Central Committee: Alleged violations of RCW 42.17A.235, and .240 for failure to timely and accurately disclose contributions & expenditures on reports (EY25 MAR25)

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) completed its review of the complaint filed by Conner Edwards on March 28, 2025. The complaint alleged that the Walla Walla County Democratic Central Committee (Committee) may have violated RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 by failing to timely and accurately disclose contributions and expenditures on its C-3 and/or C-4 reports. The complaint also alleged that the Committee failed to provide sufficient detail on two of its January 2025 advertising expenditures.

The PDC dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Applicable Laws and Rules

RCW 42.17A.225, .235 and .240 require candidates, single election political committees, and continuing political committees to file timely, accurate reports of contributions and expenditures.  Under the full reporting option, until five months before the general election, C-4 reports are required monthly when contributions or expenditures exceed $750 since the last report.  C-4 reports are also required 21 and 7 days before each election in which the committee makes expenditures, and in the month following the election.  Contributions are reported weekly during this same period and must be disclosed on Monday for contributions deposited during the previous seven days. 

 WAC 390-16-037 obligates any person required to report the “purpose” of an expenditure under RCW 42.17A.240(7) or 42.17A.255(5)(b) to identify any candidate(s) or ballot proposition(s) supported or opposed by the expenditure, and to describe in detail the goods and/or services provided by the expenditure.  The rule includes two examples for disclosing the details of the goods and/or services provided. 

 Findings

• The Walla Walla County Democratic Central Committee has been reporting to the PDC since at least 2007. The Committee’s current chair is Kari Isaacson.
• The complaint alleged that the Committee’s Line 18 Cash on Hand balance for its December 2024 C-4 report was $9,793.75 but its beginning Line 1 cash balance on its January 2025 C-4 report was $12,454.76, a difference of nearly $3,000.
• On April 2, 2025, PDC staff sent a copy of the compliant to the Respondent and on April 16, 2025, the Committee amended its January 2025 C-4 report to show the correct Line 1 beginning cash balance of $9,793.75. The Assistant Treasurer stated she inadvertently used the December Cash on Hand balance before accounting for December 2024 expenses when submitting the January 2025 C-4 report.
• The complaint also alleged that the Committee “failed to include the precise run dates for advertisements running in festival/theatre programs.”
• On April 16, 2025, the Committee amended its January 2025 C-4 report to provide additional detail concerning its advertisements. 

 Technical Correction

The Walla Walla County Democratic Central Committee made minor or ministerial errors on required reports which did not materially harm the public interest. The Committee made the necessary technical corrections within 14 days of being notified by PDC staff.

Disposition

Resolved with Technical Correction

Date Opened

April 02, 2025

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240

Documents

• 169725 Response to Complaint.pdf
• 169725 Walla Walla County Democratic Central Committee (WWCDCC) Complaint.pdf
• 169725 Case Resolution Letter.pdf