PDC approves $3,800 penalty for Woodinville candidate over misreported donations

The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission voted July 23 to adopt staff’s recommendation imposing a combined $3,800 civil penalty (with $1,900 suspended) on Rachel Best Campbell after the commission accepted a stipulation that her campaign incorrectly reported $50,000 in contributions and related expenditures.

PDC compliance manager Alice Faiman testified that investigators found two $25,000 contributions and corresponding $25,000 expenditures that were not campaign related but were reported as if they were. ‘‘Despite Ms. Campbell’s intention to be transparent, she inaccurately reported a total of $50,000 in campaign contributions and expenditures to the commission,’’ Faiman said during testimony summarizing the investigation.

Staff proposed penalties of $900 for each of four incorrect reports and $200 for a sponsor‑identification violation, for a $3,800 total, and recommended suspending half of the amount conditional on no further violations for four years and payment within 30 days. Susie Giles Klein, presenting for staff, told commissioners: "So based on these factors, staff is proposing a $3,800 combined civil penalty for both violations."

During the hearing, Campbell told the commission she did not authorize the contested Facebook ad and that she had asked the vendor to remove it when it was discovered. "It was done entirely without my knowledge," Campbell said, describing her view that the community might misperceive non‑campaign events as campaign activity and her intent to ‘‘over‑disclose’’ that spending.

Respondent counsel urged mitigation, arguing a vendor placed the ad without the candidate’s authorization and that Campbell took prompt corrective action. After discussion, a motion to adopt staff’s recommendation (including the suspension conditions) passed; the commission’s written order will follow.

The action resolves the single enforcement matter in which the parties stipulated to the facts but left penalty to the commission. The commission recorded the stipulation, the penalty findings and the suspension conditions in its order.