WA campaign finance watchdog to pay $25K over alleged meeting violations

May 13, 2026 - 23:02

The Washington state Public Disclosure Commission, the agency responsible for enforcing campaign finance laws, has agreed to pay a $25,000 penalty to settle allegations that it violated the state's Open Public Meetings Act. The settlement, announced on Tuesday, stems from a series of closed-door meetings and email exchanges among commissioners that critics say skirted transparency requirements.

Under the terms of the agreement, all current members of the commission must complete additional training on the state's open government laws within 90 days. The PDC did not admit wrongdoing but acknowledged that certain informal discussions and email chains may have technically constituted a "meeting" under state law, which requires public notice and access.

The allegations were brought by a watchdog group that argued the commissioners were making decisions outside of public view, particularly around enforcement actions and rule changes. The group's complaint highlighted several instances where commissioners used private emails to discuss pending cases, effectively creating a quorum without proper notice.

The PDC's executive director said the commission has already implemented new policies to ensure future compliance, including stricter guidelines on electronic communications and a requirement that all substantive discussions among commissioners be conducted in public. The $25,000 fine will be paid from the agency's operating budget.

This settlement marks one of the largest penalties ever levied against a state agency for open meeting violations in Washington. It underscores ongoing tensions between the need for efficient governance and the public's right to observe the decision-making process of elected and appointed officials.