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PDC fines San Juan County candidate $110 after finding late campaign filings
Summary
The Public Disclosure Commission found candidate Jonathan Welch violated state campaign-reporting statutes by filing C4/C3 reports late or not at all and imposed a $150 fine with $40 suspended, requiring missing reports within 30 days.
Chair Allen Hayward and PDC staff concluded on Oct. 29 that PC case 155416 involving candidate Jonathan Welch showed failures to timely and accurately file required monetary contribution and expenditure reports.
At the hearing, PDC staff summarized that Welch registered under the full reporting option on Feb. 5, 2024, but missed multiple pre-primary and post-primary C4/C3 filings and submitted a July 31 C4 that showed a negative balance tied to a $1,124.70 filing fee. Staff said four complaints were received and recommended the commission find violations of RCW 42.17A.235 and RCW 42.17A.240 and assess a civil penalty of $150, with suspension conditioned on filing the missing reports within 30 days. "Staff alleges that Jonathan Welch... failed to timely and accurately file monetary contribution reports," staff told the commission.
Commissioners attempted to determine whether Welch was trying to join the virtual hearing but, finding no response, returned to the matter and found a violation. Chair Hayward imposed the staff-recommended $150 penalty, suspended $40 of that amount, and ordered Welch to file all missing reports within 30 days. The commission recorded no further appeals or additional enforcement directions at the hearing.
The action is a formal enforcement finding under the cited campaign-finance statutes; staff will follow up on compliance and payment procedures as set out by the commission.
