Complaint Opinion 19-04
Date
05/22/2019
Number
2019 - No. 4
Topic
Use of public resources for private benefit
Respondent
Rep. Sharon Shewmake
Question/Complaint
Did Respondent violate RCW 42.52.160 by blocking the Complainant from her personal Facebook page on which she had included an announcement about her upcoming town hall meeting?
Summary
No. A personal Facebook page is not a public resource under a legislator's "official control or direction" as it is not an account that was established because a person is a member of the legislature. The town hall meeting announcement was also available on the Respondent's legislative and campaign websites, to both of which the Complainant had access.