PDC clears Rolfes campaign funds

Published 4:00 pm Saturday, October 21, 2006

By TRISTAN BAURICK

Staff Writer

State officials this week found that contributions to Democrat Christine Rolfes, a candidate for a 23rd Legislative District House seat, did not violate campaign finance violations.

A complaint filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission in late August charged that Rolfes consistently failed to report monetary contributions in a timely manner and omitted required information, such as donor occupations and employer data.

Rolfes was “in flagrant disregard” of reporting requirements,” stated Poulsbo accountant Edward B. Habecker in his Aug. 23 complaint.

Habecker, listed as a contributor to the campaign of Rolfes’ opponent, incumbent Republican Bev Woods, also alleged that at least three of Rolfes’ donors exceeded limits for individual contributions.

But the PDC concluded on Thursday that those contributions had not violated state limits.

Habacker’s other allegations are still under investigation.

“It’s important to note that (Rolfes) is not over limit in contributions,” said PDC Director of Compliance Phil Stutzman. “The other (allegations), like the late reporting, we are looking at.”

Stutzman said he will report his findings sometime before the Nov. 7 election.

Rolfes said Habacker’s allegations were meant to hamper her campaign on election eve.

“It’s obviously political, but that’s politics,” she said Thursday. “I’m surprised they bring it up now, because we’ve been working with the PDC to comply for months.”

Rolfes admitted her campaign volunteers had committed “clerical errors in data entry,” but said the problem had been rectified.

“Filing contributions turned into a big project for volunteers,” she said. “We’ve addressed the concerns and made corrections. The source and nature of all contributions are in compliance.”

Rolfes recently hired a campaign co-treasurer specializing in compliance to replace a volunteer formerly handling those duties.

Rolfes said Woods has had her own campaign finance mishaps.

In 2002, Woods had to return a $1,200 campaign contribution from a national Republican group. But Woods said Friday that the sum was deposited into her account by mistake, and was redirected to a state Republican committee after consultation with the PDC. It did not constitute a violation, she said.

As of Friday, Rolfes’ cash contributions totalled $159,922. Top donors included the House Democratic Campaign Com­mittee, 23rd Legislative Dis­trict Democrats, Bainbridge resident Lois Curtis and the Kitsap County Democratic Central Committee.

Woods trailed Rolfes with $100,595 in cash donations. Woods’ largest contributors included the Spokane-based Avista Corp., the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, the Washington Oil Marketers Association and the Washington Restaurant Association, among others.