Amy Norquist: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.320 for failure to provide sponsor Identification on campaign advertisements. (EY24 JUL24)

Case

#157879

Respondent

Amy Norquist

Complainant

Erik Halvorson

Description

The complaint alleged Amy Norquist violated RCW 42.17A.320 by failing to include sponsor identification on political advertising.

RCW 42.17A.320 requires electioneering communications, independent expenditures, or political advertising to list the party preference for elections to partisan office.

In response, Norquist stated a vendor, Bicoastal Media, “made significant changes without my knowledge and that I did not approve (including removing the sponsorship information from the ads.)”

In addition, Norquist provided a letter from Bicoastal Media, which admitted the error and provided art that Norquist approved. The approved art did include proper sponsor identification.

RCW 42.17A.340(2) states: If a broadcasting station or other medium changes the content of a political advertisement, the station or medium shall be responsible for any failure of the advertisement to comply with RCW 42.17A.320 through 42.17A.335 that results from that change.

Per RCW 42.17A.340(2), staff found no evidence of a violation that would require conducting a more formal investigation into the complaint or pursuing enforcement action in this instance.

The PDC finds that no further action is warranted and has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1) and WAC 390-37-060(1)(a).
 

Disposition

Case Closed with No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

August 08, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.320

Documents

• PDC Case 157879 Amy Norquist response.pdf
• 157879 Amy Norquist Complaint.pdf
• PDC Case 157879 Amy Norquist return with no violation.pdf