Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Campaign Disclosure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
PDC finds Semibird violated disclosure rule, assesses $600 penalty with $500 suspended
Summary
The Public Disclosure Commission found Semibird violated RCW 42.17A.320 by failing to include party preference on political advertising and ordered a $600 civil penalty, suspending $500 and requiring a $100 payment; staff noted prior warnings and a signed statement of understanding.
The Public Disclosure Commission on a brief adjudicative proceeding found that Semibird (identified in staff materials as Sammy Bird), a 2024 candidate for governor, violated RCW 42.17A.320 by failing to include party preference and sponsor identification on campaign advertising and social-media accounts. PDC staff recommended the commission find a violation and assess a civil penalty under the agency penalty schedule.
PDC staff presenter Alice Feitman told commissioners the campaign’s YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Twitter accounts lacked a clearly identified party preference and that Semibird previously received a written warning and signed a statement acknowledging a prior violation. Feitman said staff’s base penalty calculation for the fact pattern recommended assessment under WAC penalty rules. "So staff recommends that the commission find Semibird violated 42.17A.320 and assess Semibird a civil penalty," Feitman said.
When given the opportunity to speak, the respondent apologized, said the campaign team handled social media and that he had not realized party preference was missing. He told the commission, "I had no idea…And after 3 days, I will send a check for, dollars 600." Commissioners discussed mitigating factors — including that Semibird did not advance to the 2024 general election — and voted to assess the $600 base penalty, suspend $500 of it, and require a $100 payment within 30 days of entry of an order. Staff said it will send the order electronically and verify contact and payment information.
The commission’s decision followed staff’s recommendation that the omission constituted a violation of state disclosure law. The PDC cited the statutory provision requiring party designation in electioneering communications and political advertising and applied the WAC penalty schedule to set the base penalty and suspension terms.
