Rader Jr, Steven: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.710 for failure to accurately disclose personal financial information of the F-1 (EY'24, APR'24)

Case

#151992

Respondent

Steven B Rader Jr.

Complainant

Wally Michaelson

Description

PDC staff reviewed the allegation(s); the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the response(s) provided by the Respondent; the applicable PDC reports filed by the Respondent; and other relevant information, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

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

• Steven Rader, Jr., a candidate in the 2024 election for Cowlitz County Commissioner, filed a Candidate Registration (C-1) with the PDC on March 20, 2024, amended April 18, 2024, for the Full Reporting option.  Mr. Rader filed a Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1), for the period 3/20/23 – 3/19/24, on March 21, 2024, amended April 12, 2024.
• RCW 42.17A.710 and WAC 390-24 outline requirements of disclosure on the Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1).  A candidate running for an office in a jurisdiction with at least 2,000 registered voters, or a candidate in a jurisdiction with fewer voters but who will raise or expect to raise at least $7,000 in contributions, must file an F-1.  The F-1 must be filed within two weeks of becoming a candidate.  A candidate’s reporting period is the previous 12 months from the filing date of the F-1.
• PDC staff reviewed the Washington State Department of Revenue and Secretary of State’s on-line business information and found the Roosevelt Elk Foundation, UBI #604-112-477, does name Steven Rader, Jr., as the individual with authority to make decisions on behalf of the business.  However, in 2018 the Roosevelt Elk Foundation was dissolved.  In the response to the complaint, Mr. Rader confirms he did not renew the business license and the foundation no longer exists.
• PDC staff confirmed with the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (WA OIC) that Steven Bruce Rader, Jr., is a currently licensed insurance provider in the State of Washington.  In his response to the complaint, Mr. Rader said that he is a sole proprietor and independent contractor.  For the F-1, filed March 21, 2024, he reported his financial consulting business, for the period 3/20/2023 – 3/19/2024, but did not completely name the business as it is registered with the WA OIC.  After the PDC contacted Mr. Rader, he corrected the F-1 on April 12, 2024.
• The Respondent does not have other similar warnings or violations of PDC requirements.

It is not within the authority of the PDC to find if Mr. Rader, or any of the businesses named on the F-1, are appropriately licensed to do business in a jurisdiction.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to accurately disclose personal financial information on the Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1) does not amount to a finding of a violation that calls for further investigation.

PDC staff will remind Steven Rader, Jr., about the importance of correctly, and completely, identifying the business name of any entities from which he has reportable income or a business affiliation when completing the Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1) disclosure.

Based on this information, the PDC finds that no further action necessary and has dismissed this matter per RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Reminder

Date Opened

April 10, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.710

Documents

• 151992 Rader_Steven Jr. Response.pdf
• 151992 Rader_Steven Jr. Complaint Return Letter (combined).pdf
• 151992 Rader Jr Steven Complaint.pdf