McCaslin, Bob: Alleged Violations of RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 for failure to timely and accurately file C-3 and C-4 reports (EY22, June22)

Case

#109883

Respondent

Robert McCaslin

Complainant

David Green

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint filed on June 22, 2022. The complaint alleged that Robert (Bob) McCaslin, a candidate for Spokane County Auditor in the 2022 election, may have violated RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 for failure to timely and accurately file Monetary Contribution reports (C-3 reports) and Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports), disclosing contributions and expenditures undertaken by the Campaign and surplus funds left over from the 2020 State Representative Legislative District 4 Campaign.

PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the response provided by Ministerial Treasurer Sharon Hanek on behalf of the Respondent; the applicable PDC reports filed by the Respondent; and queried the Respondent’s data in the PDC contribution and expenditure database, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

Although the Respondent is not a first-time candidate, staff found no evidence that the 2022 McCaslin Campaign purposely delayed or misrepresented campaign contribution and expenditure activity in order to conceal this information from the public.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to timely and accurately file a small number of C-3 and C-4 reports disclosing campaign activities, specifically including contributions and expenditures disclosed late but prior to the Primary Election, does not amount to a finding of a violation that warrants further investigation.

Pursuant to WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), however, Bob McCaslin will receive a formal written warning concerning failure to timely and accurately disclose contributions and expenditures. The formal written warning will include staff’s expectation that Mr. McCaslin timely and accurately 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.

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).

Disposition

Case Closed with Written Warning

Date Opened

June 29, 2022

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240