Complaint Opinion 96-09

​The election year mailing restrictions limit the number of newsletters to two.  The respondent invited newsletter recipients to request updates on broad, general topics, and then responded to each in a mailing with identical letters that addressed a number of issues.  Did this responsive mailing constitute a newsletter?

​Yes, and since the respondent had now sent three newsletters during the restrictive period he was found to have violated the Act and was ordered to pay reimbursement and a penalty.  The responsive letters were identical in content, addressed a number of general issues, and were not tailored to specific requests for information from constituents.  RCW 42.52.180, 42.17.132, Advisory Opinions 95-19 and 96-04.