Saturday, January 19, 2008

Campaign E-mail sent from Dan Pike's SCOG account during working hours.

According to a posting on the Washington State Justify FullOffice of Financial Management website, "the Public Disclosure Commission administers and enforces the Fair Campaign Practices and Disclosure Law. The law calls for complete disclosure of information pertaining to the financing of political campaigns, lobbying, and financial affairs of elected officials and candidates for many public offices. This law includes prohibitions on the use of public agency resources to assist in campaigns, restrictions on personal use of contributions, and provisions regulating political advertising. The Commission is also responsible for enforcing the contribution limits and other campaign finance restrictions established in law."

Below, I have posted an example of E-mail that was sent by former SCOG Transportation Director Dan Pike to a campaign associate and former Skagit County Planning Commission Member, Bobbi Kregs-McMullen, from his official Skagit County Council of Governments e-mail account during regularly scheduled work hours. (This is not a private web-based e-mail account – this is the Skagit County Council of Governments E-mail account).

Any citizen can request copies of Dan Pike’s e-mail from the Skagit County Council of Governments. Any correspondence Director Pike sent to people from his official e-mail account at work is a matter of public record and is subject to release under Washington State Public Disclosure laws.

Please know that I take no pleasure in publishing either of the E-mail. Nor will I publish all of the e-mail that was received from the public disclosure request.

Unfortunately, I have been accused of libel by one of Mayor Pike’s supporters and I have no choice but to publish examples of the actual evidence that was retrieved from public disclosure request.

One of Mayor Pike’s supporters posted a comment on Sam Taylor’s blogs stating that he/she wouldn't be surprised if Mayor Pike is considering filing a libel lawsuit against me.

That same supporter asked me what kind of legacy I hope to leave - My answer: "A community where candidates and elected officials respect and obey Washington's campaign and public disclosure laws."

No one, not even a mayor, is above the law.
_____________________________________________________________________
From: Dan Pike
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 1:19 PM
To: 'Bobbi Krebs-McMullen'
Subject: RE: McShane for Mayor Campaign Update

Your little birds probably know about this, but in case you had not gotten the word… http://www.bellinghamherald.com/elections/story/161476.html

Dan Pike
Transportation Director,
Skagit Council of Governments
204 W Montgomery
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
360.416.7877
fax: 360.416.7831
danp@scog.net

From: Bobbi Krebs-McMullen [mailto:b.krebs@verizon.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:18 PM
To: Dan Pike
Subject: Re: McShane for Mayor Campaign Update

Wow, Dan! Thank you for the good words with Kelley. I'm flattered.

The old saying goes "there are three things you can do to win a political race. The first one is doorbell. The second one is doorbell. And the third one is DOORBELL! You're doing the right thing. Keep it up, and do it even more if possible. The best way to raise money at the same time is to have someone who believes in you with all their heart stumping for money while you DOORBELL. Hope you have someone like that in your camp.

You're a great guy, a good politician, brilliant, and a hard worker. What else could the public want???? - B
----- Original Message -----
From: Dan Pike
To: Bobbi Krebs-McMullen
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 11:09 AM
Subject: RE: McShane for Mayor Campaign Update

Hi Bobbi,

Good to hear from you as always. The campaign is going well, but keeping me crazy. Had a forum last night, was on KGMI yesterday morning (if you are bored, you can hear the interview on the web—I was on the Brett and Debbie Show; the link is on the lower right-hand part of the page), and have another forum in Fairhaven tonight. I am also doorbelling with my mother later this afternoon. Mom flew out from NJ to help on the campaign.

I am doing well, but figure at this point I’m probably in 3rd—but climbing. The challenge will be to get to 2nd by Aug 21st (or by the time people mark their ballots, which is likely a bit earlier). If I get through the primary, I feel about 80% likely I’ll win the general, largely because if how the field plays or does not play to public sentiment. At this point I would peg my odds of being 1st or 2nd at about 40%, but I have a lot of doorbelling left. The biggest challenge is raising $$ and doorbelling simultaneously. Haven’t really figured that out to my satisfaction—at least not while working mostluy full time, too. Using lots of vacation time, but can’t play hooky full-time…

Any chance I know the little birds that talk to you? If you can’t disclose, that’s fine, but I’m curious...

Hope you’re doing well, and enjoying your stint at the Lincoln. I put in a word on your behalf with Kelley, should I leave this post…
--Dan

Dan Pike
Transportation Director,
Skagit Council of Governments
204 W Montgomery
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
360.416.7877
fax: 360.416.7831
danp@scog.net

From: Bobbi Krebs-McMullen [mailto:b.krebs@verizon.net]
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 7:48 AM
To: Dan Pike
Subject: Fw: McShane for Mayor Campaign Update

Hi Dan: Thought you might be interested in this. Haven't reached Craig. Have a call into him, but he's been on the road a lot. I've talked with him through Mary Kay Becker about other matters, but I know that's not much help to you. Little birds tell me you are doing well in the race. Stay in touch - Bobbi

----- Original Message -----
From: Team McShane
To: Team McShane
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 11:33 PM
Subject: McShane for Mayor Campaign Update

Dear Friend,
The race is on and I'm having a great time! The most dynamic mayor's race in my memory in Bellingham is now in full swing and I'm walking the neighborhoods meeting voters at their doors and discussing the issues that matter to our future. This election brings hope of a new way forward in Bellingham: a city where neighborhoods can plan for a great future, where our children can be certain of having clean, affordable drinking water, where citizens are included in decisions and where we make sure that spending is transparent and efficient so that we see steady improvements where it matters—in our neighborhoods and our downtown. Neighborhood PartiesPeople have been hosting neighborhood parties throughout Bellingham and a few more are scheduled. Feel free to stop by, meet new and old friends and talk with me about the issues. If you'd like to host a gathering in your home, or have a party with your neighbors to talk about the City, please send Team McShane an email. These have really been a great way to have in-depth discussions and hear your ideas.Contributions More than 190 of you have contributed to my campaign to bring a new way forward to Bellingham. This is a grassroots effort and I'm proud and humbled to have the support of so many citizens both in contributions and in volunteer time. Join us! I'd be honored by your donation to my campaign. Our funding comes from regular citizens and from every neighborhood. Your contribution will get our message of hope and change directly to the voters. In a primary race with 7 candidates, your contribution counts. Get Out The VoteThe campaign season is red-hot this July and Team McShane will be hitting the streets with dozens of volunteers going door to door to talk about a new way forward for Bellingham. Sign up to join us! We'll be out the weekends of July 21st and July 28th. Upcoming ForumsIt's time for forums and a number of citizen groups have stepped forward to host large forums to bring information directly to voters. (To see my responses to some recent questionaires, please go here.) Please attend! This is a terrific effort by people volunteering their time to inform and engage voters. Your presence is important and this is a great opportunity to hear directly from all the candidates. Upcoming forums: Thursday, July 12 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Silver Beach ForumBloedel Donovan, 2214 Electric AvenueWednesday, July 18 Starts at 6:30 p.m. League of Women Voters' Forum Municipal Courthouse, corner of Girard and C StreetThursday, July 19 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Southside ForumSponsored by the Coalition of Southside NeighborhoodsFirehouse Performing Arts Center, 1314 Harris Avenue For more info, contact Pam Went at 671-1035Wednesday, July 25 Starts at 6:30 p.m. Bill Mize ForumRome Grange, 2821 Mt. Baker Hwy.Tuesday, July 31 Starts at 6:30 p.m. Whatcom Independent Forum Whatcom County Council Chambers, 311 Grand AvenueYard SignsBy now you've seen our yard signs—we have a great sign team of volunteers placing these in supporters' yards all over town. We've installed hundreds of them. If you'd like a sign for your yard, please let us know!EndorsementsMore endorsements! In addition to a sole endorsement from Washington Conservation Voters, I'm proud to be endorsed by the Whatcom Democrats and Progressive Majority.Family NewsI have news from Kenya! If you've visited our website or seen our materials, you'll know that our daughter Raven is serving in the Peace Corps in Kenya. She's been in training and just received her assignment to Bungoma where she'll be working with orphans at the Bungoma Family Helper Project. Bungoma is in western Kenya near the Uganda border, between Lake Victoria and Mt. Elgon. It's similar in size to Bellingham, and Raven says it's astonishingly beautiful and looks like a cross between Ireland and Hawaii. For more information on the work of the Bungoma Family Helper Project, visit this site.
Best regards,Danhttp://www.danmcshane.com/

© 2007 McShane for Mayor 1451 Grant St., Bellingham, WA 98225 303.3252 mailto:team@danmcshane.comhttp://www.danmcshane.com/
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RCW 42.17.130: use of public office or agency facilities in campaigns - Prohibitions-Exceptions
"No elected official nor any employee of his or her office nor any person appointed to or employed by any public office or agency may use or authorize the use of an of the facilities of a public office or agency, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of assisting a campaign or election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition. Facilities of a public office or agency include, but are not limited to, use of stationary, postage, machines and equipment use of employees of the office or agency during working hours, vehicles, office space, publications of the office or agency, and clientele lists of persons served by the office or agency..."

Re: release of public employee documents: 42.56.060Disclaimer of public liability.
"No public agency, public official, public employee, or custodian shall be liable, nor shall a cause of action exist, for any loss or damage based upon the release of a public record if the public agency, public official, public employee, or custodian acted in good faith in attempting to comply with the provisions of this chapter."

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