Kennewick Public Facilities District Officials (3) - Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.555 use of public facilities to support Proposition 17-4; Citizens for the Link Entertainment Center - Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.205, .235, & .240 operating unregistered political committee (DEC 2017)

Case

#28028

Respondent

Kennewick Public Facilities District Officials (3) (Barbara Johnson, John Neill, Ron Hue, Renee Brooks, and Calvin Dudney)

Complainant

Roger Lenk

Description

  • Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.555 by Kennewick Public Facilities District (KPFD) officials (Barbara Johnson, KPFD President; and Corey Pearson, Executive Director of The Link Entertainment Center) by using KPFD facilities to establish and maintain a website at www.thelinktc.com that promoted the passage of Proposition 17-4, a ballot measure on the 11/7/17 general election ballot.  Alleged use of public facilities to review ad buys made by Focalpoint in support of Proposition 17-4.
  • Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.205, .235, and .240 by Citizens for the Link Entertainment Center by sponsoring political advertising that promoted passage of Proposition 17-4.
  • On January 2, 2020, PDC staff sent a letter to Complainant Roger Lenk and a separate letter to Respondents Perfect Privacy, LLC; Dave Retter; Kris Watkins; and Citizens for the Link Entertainment Center, informing recipients staff had dismissed the allegations against these Respondents for the reasons stated in the letters, but was continuing its investigation as a formal investigation, following an Initial Hearing (Case Status Review) for Respondent Kennewick Public Facilities District Officials. After completing its investigation, staff decided not to allege a violation by Corey Pearson because it was not clear Pearson was a Municipal Officer subject to RCW 42.17A.555.  Staff entered in to a Stipulation with all five KPFD Board Members( Barbara Johnson, John Neill, Ron Hue, Renee Brooks, and Calvin Dudney) for the alleged use of public facilities to promote Proposition 17-4.
     

Disposition

Violation Found by Commission

Date Opened

December 03, 2017

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.205, RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240, RCW 42.17A.555

Documents

Penalties

Total penalties: $10,000

Balance Due: 0

John Neill

Penalty
$2,000 (Penalty for Violation of RCW 42.17A.555)
Suspended
$1,000 (Payment of penalty within 30 days of Final Order; No violations of RCW 42.17A or WAC 390 within four years of Final Order)
Payments
$1,000 on 05/06/2021 (PAID)

Calvin Dudney

Penalty
$2,000 (Penalty for violation of RCW 42.17A.555)
Suspended
$1,000 (Pay penalty within 30 days of Final Order; No violations of RCW 42.17A or WAC 390 within four years of Final Order)
Payments
$1,000 on 05/06/2021 (PAID)

Ron Hue

Penalty
$2,000 (Penalty for violation of RCW 42.17A.555)
Suspended
$1,000 (Payment of penalty within 30 days of Final Order; No violations of RCW 42.17A or WAC 390 within four years of Final Order)
Payments
$1,000 on 05/06/2021 (PAID)

Renee Brooks

Penalty
$2,000 (Penalty for violation of RCW 42.17A.555)
Suspended
$1,000 (Payment of penalty within 30 days of Final Order; No violations of RCW 42.17A or WAC 390 within four years of Final Order.)
Payments
$1,000 on 05/06/2021 (PAID)

Barbara Johnson

Penalty
$2,000 (Penalty for violation of RCW 42.17A.555)
Suspended
$1,000 (Payment of penalty within 30 days of Final Order; No violations of RCW 42.17A or WAC 390 within four years of Final Order.)
Payments
$1,000 on 05/06/2021 (PAID)

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