Complaint Opinion 06-07
Date
01/13/2007
Number
06-07
Topic
Campaign Use of Leg. Press Releases and Leg. Newsletters
Respondent
Dave Schmidt
Question/Complaint
Does the posting of leg. press releases and leg. newsletters by a legislator on his campaign web site violate RCW 42.52.180?
Summary
Yes. The posting constitutes a use of the "facilities of an agency" (public resources) to assist a campaign, as does the posting of these materials on a legislator's non-campaign web site after June 30 in an election year. Respondent stipulated to the violation and was penalized by a Letter of Instruction. See also: Advisory Opinion 2004 - No. 1 and Complaint Opinion 2006-No. 5.