PDC suspends $500 penalty for candidate Marie Gormson after reconsideration

The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission on Aug. 27 granted reconsideration to Marie Gormson in PDC case 191224 and suspended a $500 civil penalty on the condition she have no further reporting violations in the next four years.

PDC staff told the commission the respondent had initially filed an amendment to a prior C‑1 instead of the current-year candidate registration, and that staff later received the correct C‑1. Chair Jay Leach closed the record for the reconsideration hearing before commissioners voted to grant the motion. Leach told Gormson: "The fine of $500 has been suspended and you won't have to pay anything so long as you don't have any further violations in the next 4 years." Gormson thanked the commission and said she would comply.

Jordan Campbell, appearing for PDC staff, summarized outreach and service dates for hearing notices and confirmed the corrected filing dates. Commissioners asked whether staff had record of pre‑hearing verification emails; staff located emails after the hearing that showed the respondent had been advised she needed to file a C‑1. The commission’s action was to grant reconsideration and amend the sanction to a suspended penalty contingent on future compliance.