PDC denies Cle Elum councilmember's request to skip financial disclosure

The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission on July 30 denied a request from Sarah Hubbard to be exempted from filing the Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1).

Jennifer Hansen, a PDC staff presenter, told the commission the PDC had approved a petition for disclosure submitted by the City of Cle Elum on June 25, 2026, and issued an order on July 1. Hansen said Hubbard requested the exemption on July 2, 2026, citing that she had been appointed to fill a vacancy for a short term and that filing the F-1 would create hardship. Hansen told the commission the reporting-modification process typically exempts specific portions of an F-1 for undue hardship, rather than the entire financial-affairs statement.

Commission records staff (identified in the proceeding as Bradford) said the City of Cle Elum adopted the petition on June 9 and transmitted it to the PDC on June 15, and that the city had been notified the petition would be considered at the PDC’s June meeting. Hansen also told the commission she had discussed the option of resignation with Hubbard but cautioned that resignation does not necessarily eliminate reporting obligations or the possibility of later enforcement review.

Jay Leach, chair of the Public Disclosure Commission, said the showing did not meet statutory requirements and denied Hubbard’s request, adding that a change in reporting rules during service and personal reluctance to disclose do not satisfy the statute. “I’m going to deny the request,” Leach said.

The denial leaves Hubbard subject to the standard F-1 reporting requirement for her appointment to Cle Elum City Council position 4. The commission did not announce any penalty in this proceeding; the staff record and the PDC's order will be posted with the meeting recording.