PDC fines several local officials for failing to file personal financial reports

The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission on July 23 addressed a string of enforcement matters involving elected local officials who failed to file required personal financial affairs statements (F1 forms) for 2024 and 2025.

Staff presented multiple cases in which respondents either had not filed the F1 reports before the hearing or had prior unresolved penalties. For example, staff said Melissa Stearns (Shelton city council) had not filed the 2024 and 2025 F1s and recommended penalties up to $3,000 per report under the penalty schedule. "Melissa Stearns has failed to file the missing report by today's hearing," staff noted when introducing the matter.

Commissioners applied the penalty schedule across several matters but commonly used conditional suspensions to encourage immediate cure: in multiple cases the commission assessed civil penalties (frequently $3,000 per current violation) with half suspended if the missing reports were filed within 30 days, prior penalties paid, and no further violations occurred within a multi‑year period.

In one case (Jennifer Bumpus), staff reported she filed the missing reports prior to the hearing; the commission found the violation but applied a lower penalty range because the filings were cured. For respondents who filed their reports before the hearing but had outstanding prior penalties, the commission combined payment conditions with suspension terms as an incentive to resolve delinquencies.

The orders require respondents to file the missing F1 reports within 30 days and to satisfy payment conditions to trigger suspension of part of the penalties. Enforcement staff will prepare orders and track compliance with filing and payment conditions.