Benton County officials, and officials from the cities of Kennewick, Prosser, Richland and West Richland

Benton County;City of Kennewick; City of Prosser; City of Richland; City of West Richland - Alleged violattion of RCW 42.17A.555 using public facilities for political activity (PDC Case 15-001)(Aug 2014)

Case Details

Case Number

2311

Respondent

Benton County officials, and officials from the cities of Kennewick, Prosser, Richland and West Richland

Complainant

Radphord-Leon Howard

Date Opened

January 21, 2016

Case Status

Violation Found by Commission

Commission or presiding officer heard case and found violation.

Learn More

Area(s) of Law*

  • RCW 29B.45.010/42.17A.555

*On January 1, 2026, RCW 42.17A was recodified to RCW 29B

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Description

The complaint alleged that a number of Benton County officials, and officials from the cities of Kennewick, Prosser, Richland and West Richland (and listed below) violated RCW 42.17A.555 by using the facilities of their respective local public agencies, including the use of agency computers, emails, police and sheriff's uniforms, vehicles, agency staff time, and other facilities to support the August 5, 2014 Benton County sales and use tax measure. 


An Enforcement Hearing has been scheduled for May 25, 2017, for the following Respondents: Former Benton County Sheriff Steven Keane; Police Chiefs David Giles, Ken Hohenberg, and Chris Skinner; former Police Chief Brian McElroy and the Citizens for Safe Communities. At the hearing, the Commission accepted signed Stipulations from the Respondents listed above acknowledging violations of RCW 42.17A and dismissed the remaining allegations.  (Note - please query the PDC Enforcement page on our website for each individual Respondent listed).


Documents

Penalties

None