| September 24, 2009 | Volume 9 Issue No 7 |
Jim Clements, Chair
Dave Seabrook, Vice Chair
Jane Noland, Member
Ken Schellberg, Member
Enforcement
Patty Hale stipulated that she used public facilities by recruiting students to assist her 2009 campaign for Shoreline City Council on two occasions while working as a substitute teacher at Shorecrest High School. She agreed to a penalty of $1,000 with $750 suspended conditioned upon no further violations of campaign finance laws through 2013.
Legislation
The Commission approved draft agency request legislation that would eliminate duplicative filings of PDC reports with county auditors and repeal language that designates the office of the secretary of state as a place to file PDC reports.
Rule Making
Following a public hearing, the Commission amended WAC 390-28-100 Reporting modifications – possible qualifications. The changes modernize the language of the rule, reference statutory standards for allowing modifications, describe how to disclose real property, define bona fide separate property agreements and bona fide separate status, and reference Commission Interpretations that set out disclosure protocols for certain professions.
The Commission requested staff proceed with rule making in two additional areas: future amendments to WAC 390-19-020 Electronic filing- mandatory filing to allow for electronic filing of Candidate and Committee Registration Statements (PDC forms C-1 and C-1pc, respectively) and updating the agency’s public records rules in WACs 390-13 and 390-14.
Amendments to WAC 390-05-400 to adjust contribution limits and other sections of law enacted by Initiative 134 were discussed. The Commission reviewed the changes in economic conditions as reflected in the Implicit Price Deflator for inflation and determined the dollar amounts should remain at the current threshold levels.
Advisory Matters
The Commission finalized its 2009-11 Strategic Plan
Additionally, the Commission requested that staff draft a proposed policy on emergency operations. The new policy will establish filing procedures to be followed in the event a statewide or local emergency impacts agency operations for an extended period of time.
Reporting Modifications
New Personal Financial Affairs Statement (PDC Form F-1) reporting modifications were granted to:
· Stephen Johnson, Member of the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals, from disclosing one testamentary trust, for which he is a trustee, and another trust in which his spouse is a trustee. Neither of the trusts do any business with the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals or any other state agency.
· Amy Walen, 2009 candidate for Kirkland City Council, in accordance with the Commission’s Motor Vehicle Dealer protocol, PDC Interpretation 02-05. Ms. Walen must disclose, for the 12-months prior to her becoming a candidate, all purchases and leases of vehicles, and purchases of parts & services by the City of Kirkland from Ford Hyundai of Kirkland, an automobile dealership of which she is CFO and her spouse has a 25% ownership interest, the business customers and governmental entities other than the City of Kirkland that purchased or leased 10 or more vehicles from the dealership, and business customers who paid in excess of $15,000 for the purchase of parts and/or service from the dealership.
· Emmet John Erion, 2009 candidate for commissioner for the Port of Woodland, from disclosing the financial interests of his spouse. Mr. Erion and his spouse of one year execution a prenuptial agreement and maintain separate property.
A reporting modification with no change was renewed for Gordon Budke, Eastern Washington University Trustee.
The Commission meeting materials can be found at
www.pdc.wa.gov under Commission Meetings.
For additional information concerning these issues contact Lori Anderson, Communications & Training Officer,
at (360) 664-2737, toll free 1-877-601-2828 or e-mail at landerson@pdc.wa.gov.
The next regular meeting of the Public Disclosure Commission is tentatively scheduled for October 22, 2009.