PDC finds Lynnwood candidate Joshua Binda violated reporting rules; $1,000 fine, $500 suspended

The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission on July 2 found that Lynnwood candidate Joshua Binda violated state campaign reporting and inspection rules and imposed a $1,000 penalty with $500 suspended conditioned on corrective actions.

Alice Fimann, presenting the enforcement case, said the allegations in PDC Case No. 175907 involved RCW provisions for timely and accurate reporting (noted in the record as RCW 42.17A.235 and RCW 42.17A.240) and a WAC requirement for timely inspection of campaign books (WAC 390-16-043). Fimann reported that while Binda ultimately provided campaign books, they were delivered after the primary election despite earlier requests, and the final report—which covered the period from the 7-day report through the post-election report—omitted required expenditure detail. Staff noted about a little over $700 in expenditures to a texting organization but said the report did not include the number of texts sent or sufficient vendor contact information.

Staff recommended a $1,000 penalty under the schedule for a second violation, with part of the penalty suspended if corrective steps were taken. Chair Jay Robert Leach found the violations as alleged and imposed a $1,000 penalty, suspending $500 on three conditions: that Binda provide the number of texts for the texting vendor identified in his report, provide the vendor—ontact information described by staff, and pay the unsuspended $500 within 30 days of the written order. Leach also ordered that Binda have no further violations of campaign-finance law for four years. The commission recorded no in-person appearance on behalf of Binda and noted his written response had been considered in reaching the decision.