HomeMy WebLinkAbout070626 email - Fw_ PDC - Jefferson County PUD Officials_ Alleged violation of RCW 29B_45_010 for use of public facilities or resources for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate or bal
FYI - I also forwarded this message to the Leader, PDN, and Beacon, as well as the PUD.
________________________________
From: Josh D. Peters <JDPeters@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Sent: Monday, July 6, 2026 12:32 PM
To: PDC Support <pdc@pdc.wa.gov>
Subject: Re: PDC - Jefferson County PUD Officials: Alleged violation of RCW 29B.45.010 for use of public facilities or resources for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate
or ballot measure.
Greetings Colin Peeples:
Thank you for your time on the phone on July 2. I appreciate the opportunity to review Jefferson County's Parks & Rec Levy Lid Lift factsheet and take immediate corrective action pursuant
to PDC direction.
The sentence from our Levy Lid Lift factsheet that you indicated was of concern was the following:
"These programs and facilities enrich quality of life and provide safe, welcoming spaces and activities for youth, adults, seniors, and families."
Directly following our July 2 phone call, I asked staff to remove that phrase from the online factsheet, per the direction you provided me. The online factsheet was updated on Thursday,
July 2:
www.co.jefferson.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/24507/Jeff-Co-Parks-Rec-Levy-Lid-Lift-Fact-Sheet <http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/24507/Jeff-Co-Parks-Rec-Levy-Lid-Lift-Fact-Sheet>
As I described to you, staff prepared the factsheet according to the direction I had provided by email once the Board of County Commissioners adopted the Resolution that placed the Parks
Levy on the August 4 primary ballot. That May 1, 2026, email message (attached) indicates our awareness of the statutory limitations on the county's actions. I reviewed the factsheet
prior to its initial release and therefore accept responsibility for not flagging the sentence cited above as a potential concern. At the time, I thought the language about the value
of parks and recreation was axiomatic. For example, see the attached graphic from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), which asserts that, "Everyone Deserves
Access to Parks." That said, I understand now that from the PDC perspective, the statement could potentially be perceived as advocacy in the context of consideration of a ballot measure.
I also appreciate the fact that you indicated during our phone call that the factsheet was the issue at hand, not how the information was published and distributed. Jefferson County
inquired with Public Utility District No. 1 of Jefferson County (the PUD) about the prospect of including our factsheet within their invoice mailer, which is a typical request the county
has made with the PUD before when we've wanted to get information, such as updates about the recycling program, to our constituents. The PUD simply acted on our request and was not
responsible for reviewing or approving the information on the county's factsheet.
We anticipate correspondence from the PDC that concludes the review process for these three related complaints. Thank you again for the opportunity to provide a county response. If you
have any questions or need for additional information, please advise.
Regards,
Josh D. Peters, AICP (he/him/his)
County Administrator
Jefferson County <https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/> , Washington
360-385-9100
Note: email subject to disclosure per Public Records Act, RCW 42.56
From: PDC Support <pdc@pdc.wa.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 8:37 AM
To: Eric Kuzma <EKuzma@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: Re: PDC - Jefferson County PUD Officials: Alleged violation of RCW 29B.45.010 for use of public facilities or resources for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate
or ballot measure.
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Jefferson County PUD Officials,
A third complaint has been filed. Please find it attached and the requested response date remains July 6, 2026.
Colin Peeples
Compliance Officer
Public Disclosure Commission
Office Phone Number: (360) 753-1111
pdc@pdc.wa.gov <mailto:pdc@pdc.wa.gov>
To respond, please reply to this email.
Washington Public Disclosure Commission
Phone: (360) 753-1111 - Toll free: (877) 601-2828
Email: pdc@pdc.wa.gov <mailto:pdc@pdc.wa.gov> – Website www.pdc.wa.gov <http://www.pdc.wa.gov/>
NOTICE: Our agency regulations are being recodified effective January 1, 2026. While requirements remain the same, section numbers and citations will be different. For more information
please visit the PDC website <https://www.pdc.wa.gov/rules-enforcement/pdc-relocating-rcw-4217a-rcw-29b> .
Washington State law establishes email as the PDC’s official means of communication. Filers have a duty to notify the PDC of changes to their email address within 10 days and to maintain
an address where they can be reached for five years following their last PDC report. If you are having trouble updating your registration or PDC account with a new email address, contact
us at pdc@pdc.wa.gov <mailto:pdc@pdc.wa.gov> .
On Fri, 26 Jun at 4:00 PM , PDC Support <pdc@pdc.wa.gov <mailto:pdc@pdc.wa.gov> > wrote:
Jefferson County PUD Officials,
The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) received a complaint from Shona Davis and Reverend Crystal Cox, which has been assigned PDC Case Number 192564. Reference this case number on
any future communications with the PDC regarding these complaints and monitor this email for future messages.
The complaint alleges the following:
Alleged violation of RCW 29B.45.010 for use of public facilities or resources for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot measure.
Please review our guidelines <https://www.pdc.wa.gov/rules-enforcement/guidelines-restrictions/guidelines-local-government-agencies-election-campaigns> for local governments in election
campaigns.
Review the attached complaint and provide your written response by July 6, 2026, by replying directly to this email.
NOTE: On Jan. 1, 2026, RCW 42.17A was recodified to RCW 29B <https://www.pdc.wa.gov/rules-enforcement/pdc-relocating-rcw-4217a-rcw-29b>
For more information about the enforcement process, see our Enforcement Guide <https://www.pdc.wa.gov/learn/publications/enforcement-guide> .
The attached complaint is posted to the Enforcement Cases <https://www.pdc.wa.gov/rules-enforcement/enforcement/enforcement-cases> page of our website. Your written response to the
complaint, once received, will also be posted to this web page. Please note that all written communications with the PDC are subject to future public records requests, unless specifically
exempted by RCW 42.56 <https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.56> . We will reach out to you at this email address when there are updates to your case. However, there is also
a subscription feature available from each case record on our Enforcement Cases <https://www.pdc.wa.gov/rules-enforcement/enforcement/enforcement-cases> page by which you can subscribe
to be notified of any changes to the content posted online.
If you determine that you need to file or amend reports as part of this case and you need help, reply to this message with a request to be assigned a member of the Filer Assistance
team so that you receive timely and coordinated guidance.
Reply directly to this email if you have any questions so your message is routed directly to me in our system.
To respond, please reply to this email.
Washington Public Disclosure Commission
Phone: (360) 753-1111 - Toll free: (877) 601-2828
Email: pdc@pdc.wa.gov <mailto:pdc@pdc.wa.gov> – Website www.pdc.wa.gov <http://www.pdc.wa.gov/>
NOTICE: Our agency regulations are being recodified effective January 1, 2026. While requirements remain the same, section numbers and citations will be different. For more information
please visit the PDC website <https://www.pdc.wa.gov/rules-enforcement/pdc-relocating-rcw-4217a-rcw-29b> .
Washington State law establishes email as the PDC’s official means of communication. Filers have a duty to notify the PDC of changes to their email address within 10 days and to maintain
an address where they can be reached for five years following their last PDC report. If you are having trouble updating your registration or PDC account with a new email address, contact
us at pdc@pdc.wa.gov <mailto:pdc@pdc.wa.gov> .
Colin Peeples
Compliance Officer
Public Disclosure Commission
Office Phone Number: (360) 753-1111
pdc@pdc.wa.gov <mailto:pdc@pdc.wa.gov>
On Fri, 26 Jun at 3:37 PM , Ekuzma <ekuzma@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:ekuzma@co.jefferson.wa.us> > wrote:
DO NOT EDIT THE DESCRIPTION HERE. Please edit the description in the CaseTrack system
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