Campaign Contributions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does King County's Campaign
Contribution Program track?
The county receives duplicate copies of what campaigns file with the State Public
Disclosure Commission (PDC), unless candidates file electronically
with the PDC. King County only monitors contribution amounts made to any
candidate for Executive, Assessor, Sheriff and County Council, making sure
that contributions do not exceed limits set by King
County Code 1.05. Unless
filing electronically, duplicate copies are to be mailed to: King County Elections Division,
919 SW Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057
WA 98104.
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Q: What are the campaign contribution limits?
A: All persons and organizations, including political committees, are prohibited
from making contributions during the election cycle totaling more than $1,600
in the aggregate to any candidate for Executive, Assessor, Sheriff or County
Council.
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Q: What is an election cycle?
A: An election cycle is the time between the general election, primary or special election for the office in question and the date an individual becomes a candidate for such office and ends when that campaign is closed out and a C4 is filed and checked "this
is the final report."
For example: The election cycle could begin when John Doe files a C1, thereby
creating a new campaign for John Doe for County Council. The campaign cycle
for this campaign remains open until John Doe closes that campaign by checking "yes" in
the box on the top of the C4 which asks, "Is this your final report?"
Q: What are the different PDC forms that need to be filed?
A: F-1 Personal Financial Affairs Statement. A copy with an original signature may be filed
with the King County Board of Ethics to satisfy the Code of Ethics requirement
under KCC
3.04.050.
Mail to:
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3460
Seattle, WA 98104-7061
C1 Candidate Registration – Contains candidate's name, office sought, etc., and is due within two weeks of
becoming a candidate. (You become a candidate when you raise or spend money,
reserve space or buy advertising, authorize someone else to take one of
these actions for you, or you make a public announcement or file your Declaration
of Candidacy, whichever occurs first.)
C3 Cash Receipts Monetary Contributions – Lists the names and
addresses of the contributors, the dollar amounts given, aggregate amounts
given to date, and the contributor's employer.
C4 Campaign Summary Receipts and Expenditures – Breaks down the receipts
and expenditures of the campaign to date.
Q: I understand that the campaign contribution limit is supposed to be adjusted
every two years? Is that correct?
A: King County Code 1.05.105 states:
“Adjustment of dollar “At the beginning of each even-numbered
calendar year, the records and elections division shall increase or decrease
all dollar amounts in this chapter based on changes in economic conditions
as reflected in the inflationary index used by the Washington state Public
Disclosure Commission under RCW 42.17.370….”
View the 2008-2009 Adjustment of Campaign Limits
Q: What is the contribution limit for the years 2008 and 2009?
A: Based on the data received from the PDC, the campaign contribution dollar
limit established in K.C.C. 1.05.040(A) is adjusted for the years 2008 through
2009 to $1,600 in the aggregate to any
candidate for the offices of executive, county council, sheriff, or assessor.
Q: What are the effective dates for the new campaign contribution limit?
A: This adjustment is effective February 29, 2008 and shall remain in effect
until December 31, 2009, unless sooner superceded by county directive.
Q: What do you do when someone has "gone over their limit"?
A: The campaign coordinator in the Records, Elections and Licensing Services
Division notifies the campaign treasurer by telephone of the overage.
Usually when there is an overage, it is an error. Sometimes campaigns don't
have
sophisticated computer programs to track all of their contributions,
so errors do happen. Usually the overages are small amounts—$100,
etc. Most of the time, the treasurer will issue a refund to the contributor
and report
the correction on a C4.
If a campaign fails to comply with the limits after we notify them, we send them a certified letter requesting compliance. If they
still don't comply, we will refer the issue to the Prosecuting Attorney's
Office.
Q: Does King County track exactly who is giving? Or who their employer is?
Or what their occupation is? Or whether the reports have been filed in a
timely fashion?
A: No. King County only receives duplicate copies of forms that are submitted
to the State PDC or accesses information submitted electronically to the
PDC. By King County Code, the County's task is to monitor contribution limits
for the offices of Executive, Assessor, Sheriff and County Councilmembers
only and be simply recordkeepers otherwise.
Q: Can we request PDC information from your office?
A: Yes. We have hard copies of the completed PDC forms for initiatives and
offices from the state level on down to cities, fire districts, political
committees, etc., except for those candidates who file electronically with
the PDC. PDC forms filed electronically with the PDC can be accessed at www.pdc.wa.gov .
Files go back six years (files prior to four years are in inactive records
storage.) Please come in to the Records, Elections and Licensing Services
Division at 500 Fourth Avenue, Room 553, in downtown Seattle between 8:30 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m. You can request copies of the completed forms at $.15 per page.
For further information about King County's Campaign Contribution Program,
please call:
206-296-1540.
For further information about State-required reports, please call: Washington
State Public Disclosure Commission: 360-753-1111.
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