Kalei LaFave: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.700 and .710 for failure to timely file annual F-1 and for failing to disclose complete income information on the candidate F-1. (EY23, MAY24)

Case

#154147

Respondent

Kalei LaFave

Complainant

Ramona Leber

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:

• Kalei LaFave ran for election to the City Council of the City of Longview in election year 2023.  Ms. LaFave won the election, took office on January 1, 2024, and is presently the Mayor Pro-tem for the City of Longview Council.
• Ms. LaFave filed their candidate Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1), for the period of May 18, 2022, to May 17, 2023, on June 5, 2023.  The original candidate F-1 filed by Ms. LaFave did not include complete income information as required by RCW 42.17A.710. On June 20, 2024, following the complaint, the F-1 was amended to include updated income information.
• Per RCW 42.17A.700, an annual F-1 for elected officials was due by April 15, 2024.  Ms. LaFave filed that F-1 on June 20, 2024, after being notified by PDC staff the statement was past due.
• The respondent does not have other similar warnings or violations of PDC requirements.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to include complete income information on the F-1 filed while Ms. LaFave was a candidate seeking office and the untimely filing of the annual F-1 once Ms. LaFave was elected to office does not amount a finding of a violation that calls for further investigation.

Per WAC 390-37-060(1)(d), however, Kalei LaFave will receive a formal written warning concerning the requirements under RCW 42.17A.700 and RCW 42.17A.710 for failing to include complete income information on their candidate F-1 and for failing to timely file the 2023 annual F-1.  Staff expects Ms. LaFave, moving forward, to follow all laws, rules and PDC guidance about the Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1).  If violations of PDC laws or rules occur in the future, the Commission will consider this formal written warning in deciding on further Commission action.

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 Written Warning

Date Opened

May 20, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.700, RCW 42.17A.710

Documents

• 154147 Kalei LaFave Complaint.pdf
• 154147 LaFave_Kalei Complaint Return Letter (combined).pdf