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PDC finds violations in dozens of cases, orders payments and suspended fines tied to future compliance
Summary
In a lengthy enforcement calendar, the PDC found violations in numerous cases for late or missing pre‑primary C4 reports, imposing a range of fines—with many suspended on conditions that missing reports be filed within 30 days and that respondents avoid further violations for several years.
The commission spent the bulk of the Sept. 23 docket adjudicating dozens of cases in which staff alleged late or missing pre‑primary C4 reports. Many respondents told the commission they were first‑time candidates or experienced administrative confusion; staff nonetheless recommended violations and the commission imposed monetary sanctions in each listed case.
Examples from the hearing record include Joseph Godsey (Spokane Valley city council candidate), who came into compliance the day before the hearing and received a $300 penalty with the full amount suspended provided he remain in compliance for four years; Joshua Arnold (Richland) received a $300 fine with part suspended after explaining reporting confusion; and Brandon Kimmel (treasurer‑represented) received a $200 fine with $75 suspended after the commission reviewed written materials submitted by his treasurer. Across grouped batches, the commission imposed tiered sanctions: smaller fines for single missed reports where candidates did not advance past the primary and larger fines (with bigger suspended portions) for those who proceeded to the general election.
All orders included conditions: the unsuspended portion must be paid within 30 days of the written order, missing reports must be filed within that same 30‑day period, and respondents must have no further violations during multi‑year compliance windows (commonly four years) to retain suspended amounts.
