Yes for Public Safety: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.320 for failure to accurately disclose Top 5 contributors on political advertising. (Jan 2019)

Case

#46514

Respondent

Yes for Public Safety

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

The Respondent sponsored an advertisement supporting Proposition 1 that was mailed out on January 25, 2019. The cost of the mailer was $5,200 and was timely & accurately reported by the Respondent to the PDC. The Respondent disclosed two organizations as the Top 5 Contributors on the mailer. McDaniel Projects made an in-kind contribution of $1,000 to the Respondent on January 16, 2019 and the Respondent failed to include this third contributor in its Top 5 disclosure. When it became aware of the omission, the Respondent made a good-faith effort to remedy the error by updating subsequent ads, including another mailer that was sent to a broader, overlapping audience. Based on these findings, PDC staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to include the third contributor in its Top 5 disclosure did not amount to an actual violation warranting further investigation.

PDC reminded the Respondent about the importance of timely & accurately disclosing the Top 5 Contributors on all political advertising. The PDC dismissed the matter and did not conduct a more formal investigation into the complaint or pursue further enforcement in this case.

Disposition

Case Closed with Reminder

Date Opened

February 05, 2019

Areas of Law*

RCW 29B.30.050/42.17A.320

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