Richardson, Theresa: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.320 for failure to provide proper sponsor ID on campaign advertising. (MAY'23 EY'23)

Case

#137317

Respondent

Theresa Richardson

Complainant

Amy Goatley

Description

On May 23, 2023, the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) received a complaint alleging that Theresa Richardson, a candidate for re-election to the position of City Council Member in the City of Richland in the 2023 election year, may have violated RCW 42.17A.320 for failure to include sponsor identification on campaign yard signs. 

PDC staff reviewed the allegation(s); the applicable statute(s), rule(s), a link/photo of Ms. Richardson’s 2023 campaign yard sign, the June 8, 2023, response to the complaint submitted by Ms. Richardson on behalf of her campaign; the reporting requirement(s) pertinent to the sponsor identification statute codified in RCW 42.17A; and all other relevant information. 

Based on staff’s review, we found the following: 

On May 22, 2023, Theresa Richardson filed a Candidate Registration with the PDC declaring her candidacy for election to the position of City Council Member in the City of Richland, selecting the “Mini Reporting” option and listing David Richardson as Treasurer.

You alleged that: “None of Theresa Richardson’s signs have her sponsorship information or what she is running for.” You attached a photo of the candidate’s yard sign as evidence of the alleged violation.

In her response to your complaint, Theresa Richardson stated: “This is to respond: 1) There is no requirement to provide sponsor ID on a 4’x 8’ sign p/section 8 copied below. Further, it is my understanding that there is no legal requirement to mention the position number when using yard signs for a political campaign p/PDC guidance provided on 6/1/2023.” Theresa Richardson included a copy of RCW 42.17A.320 with her response.

On July 13, 2023, staff talked to you via phone and requested that you physically measure the sign(s) at issue in your complaint, and you noted that you would measure the sign and let staff know.

On July 27, 2023, staff sent you a follow up email regarding the July 13, 2023, conversation via phone, asking if you had a chance to measure the sign. On the same day, July 27, 2023, you responded to staff’s email and noted that the sign was “4 x 8” in size.  Staff noted that there is no requirement under the statutory scheme to provide sponsor identification information on a 4’x 8’ sign. 

Based on these findings, staff determined that there was no evidence of a violation to warrant conducting a formal investigation into this allegation or take enforcement action in this matter.

Accordingly, the PDC staff found that no further action was warranted and dismissed the complaint in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1). 

Disposition

Case Closed with No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

May 25, 2023

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.320

Documents

• 137317 Richardson Theresa Complaint.pdf
• 137317 Theresa Richardson Complaint Return Letter....pdf
• 137317 Richardson Theresa Complaint Response.pdf