Realtor's Stipulated Agreement with PDC

Finally, they post the Stipulated Agreement.

The Commission accepted a stipulated agreement in which the Realtors Quality of Life PAC (RQL-PAC) admitted violating campaign disclosure laws in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 by not reporting expenditures, filing late reports, and filing incomplete reports on multiple occasions. RQL-PAC agreed to a penalty of $130,000. Of that amount, $50,000 is suspended provided that RQL-PAC and any successor political committees are not found in violation of campaign disclosure laws through 2011 and that internal controls are established to prevent future reporting errors. An associated allegation that Dan Pike, a 2007 candidate for Mayor of the City of Bellingham, failed to report an in-kind contribution of political advertising from RQL-PAC was dismissed.


The Commission agreed to report to the Attorney General that the Washington State Republican Party has apparently violated the law that restricts how a political party may use its exempt funds. State law allows a political party to accept unlimited contributions into an exempt account, but those funds can only be used for a finite list of activities. The Commission believes there is evidence that the WSRP used its exempt funds to pay for three candidate mailings, an apparent violation of what the law allows.

Legislation/Rulemaking

2009 agency-request legislation regarding false political advertising was approved.

The Commission approved proposed language for:

· new WAC 390-05-222, Domestic Partner - definition
· amended WAC 390-17-305, Personal Funds of a Candidate,
· amended WAC 390-16-207, In-kind contributions – Explanation and reporting,
· amended WAC 390-20-110 Forms for lobbyist employers, and
· amended WAC 390-20-120 Forms for report of legislative activity by public agencies.

A public hearing will be held on December 4, 2008 for possible permanent adoption.

Reporting Modifications

The Commission denied a Personal Financial Affairs reporting modification request by Marlyn E. Jensen, a 2008 candidate for State Representative, to exempt her from disclosing real estate that she owns and the real estate held by her limited liability corporations.

The Commission approved a Personal Financial Affairs reporting modification request for Norman Gutzwiler, Chelan County PUD commissioner, from disclosing the reportable business and governmental customers of two entities for which he serves as a board member: the National Cherry Growers & Industries Foundation and the Washington State Fruit Commission.

Scott Lancaster, Orcas Island School District board member, requested and received a renewal of his Personal Financial Affairs Statement reporting modification.

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.