Bhagwandin, Harry: Alleged Violations of RCW 42.17A.235 & .240 for failure to disclose in-kind contribution of political advertising (EY22, Nov22)

Case

#114223

Respondent

Harry Bhagwandin

Complainant

Elizabeth Rohr

Description

A complaint was filed against Harry Bhagwandin, a 2022 candidate for Lewis County Commissioner, alleging a violation of RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 by failing to report an in-kind contribution from the Lewis County News on Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure report (C-4 report) for a political advertisement/editorial content that appeared in the publication during the 2022 election cycle.

On May 19, 2022, Harry Bhagwandin filed a Candidate registration with the PDC declaring his candidacy for election to the office of Lewis County Commissioner, initially selecting the Mini Reporting option, and listing himself as Treasurer.

Mr. Bhagwandin was granted permission to change from the Mini to the Full Reporting option in July of 2022. He previously sought election in 2014 to the office of Lewis County Commissioner under the Full Reporting Option, and as a candidate for Lewis County Charter Review Commissioner in 2018 under the Mini Reporting Option.

Mr. Bhagwandin confirmed that his 2022 Lewis County Commissioner Campaign made no expenditures to either the LCN or Flannery Publications during 2022 for newspaper advertising or other services. He stated that Lynette Hoffman, a staff writer for the Lewis County News (LCN) contacted him about conducting a candidate interview sometime in early October of 2022.

Mr. Bhagwandin stated Ms. Hoffman informed him he could submit an editorial for publication with information about his 2022 candidacy for Lewis County Commissioner. He stated that it was his understanding “the interview and/or my editorial would be published in the LCN to inform her readership” about 2022 local Lewis County candidates.

Mr. Bhagwandin stated after his interview with Ms. Hoffman, he submitted an editorial written by him to the LCN “that included my concerns about local issues that I felt may be important to voters.” He stated that the editorial “was not intended to be paid advertising, but rather editorial comment from a candidate.”

Based on these findings, PDC staff found no evidence of a violation that would require conducting a more formal investigation into the complaint or pursuing any enforcement action in this instance.

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

Disposition

Case Closed with No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

November 16, 2022

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240