Commission Actions

February 8, 2012 - On Wednesday, March 7, the Commission will consider an opinion request relating to transfers of campaign funds. Find more information here

August 2, 2011 - The Executive Director has dismissed a complaint against Protect Seattle Now. The complainant has 21 days in which to appeal this decision to the seven-member Ethics and Elections Commission.

June 10, 2011 - The Commission issued its determination and order in the appeals of City Attorney’s Explanatory Statement for Seattle Referendum No. 1.

May 20, 2011 - The Executive Director has fined the McGinn for Mayor campaign $100 for failing to file a report in a timely manner.

May 18, 2011 - The Commission will receive public comments on proposed amendments to the Voters' Pamphlet Rules at the June 1, 2011 meeting.

You can read the proposed changes here.
See Agendas and Minutes for meeting details close to the date.

May 4, 2011 - The Commission found Kimberlee Archie to be not in violation of the Ethics Code. The determination is available here.

April 27, 2011 - The Executive Director has filed notice of public hearing to be held May 4, 2011 in the case of Kimberlee Archie.

You can read the Hearing Notice and Charging Document here.

April 6, 2011 - The Commission issued its determination and order in the case of Jeff Britsch.

March 31, 2011 - The Executive Director has filed notice of a Public Hearing to be held April 6, 2011, to hear charges that Jeff Britsch violated the Ethics Code.

You can read the Hearing Notice and Charging Document here.

March 15, 2011 - The Commission issued its Determination and Order in the case of Teri Woods.

February 11, 2011 - The Executive Director has filed notice of a Public Hearing to be held March 2, 2011, to hear charges that Teri Woods violated the Ethics Code.

You can read the Hearing Notice and Charging Document here.

November 3, 2010 - The Executive Director is taking written comments on this proposed rule: 2010 Draft Rule on Mini Campaign Reporting

The Executive Director will accept written comments at P.O. Box 94729, Seattle, WA 98124-4729, or by e-mail to the SEEC Main Email Address, or hand delivered to Suite 4010, 700 Fifth Avenue, Seattle. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 30, 2010.

August 20, 2010 - The Commission has scheduled a special meeting to be held August 27 to hear Ed McKenna’s appeal of the Executive Director’s rejection of a sentence in his voters’ pamphlet statement. August 23, 2010 - This matter will be heard at the regularly scheduled September 1, 2010 meeting.

McKenna letter
Executive Director's response
McKenna request for a hearing

May 7, 2010 - The Commission issued its decision and order in the matter of Christopher Bushnell.

January 21, 2010 - The Commission has issued its 2009 Election Report showing the money raised and spent promoting or opposing candidates and ballot issues.

November 5, 2009 - The Commission issued its decision in the matter of Working for Seattle. (See below.)

October 29, 2009 - The Executive Director has filed notice of a Public Hearing to be held October 30, 2009, to hear charges that Working Seattle failed to report independent campaign expenditures.

You can read the Notice of Charges here.

March 19, 2009 - The SEEC has issued a report finding that the Seattle Fire Department wasted public funds and that a lieutenant in the department misused his position to obtain a concert pass.

You can read the full report here. (2.7mb pdf)

July 22, 2008 - The Commission issued its decision in the matter of Councilmember Richard McIver.

June 17, 2008 - A hearing has been scheduled for July 15th and 16th in the matter of Councilmember Richard McIver.

NOTE: The July 16th session will start at 9:00 a.m., rather than 10:00.

You can view the hearing notice here:

Hearing Notice in the Matter of Councilmember Richard McIver

May 7, 2008 - The Executive Director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission today charged Councilmember Richard McIver with violating the City’s Ethics Code. The allegations are contained in the following Charging Document.

Councilmember Richard McIver Charging Document

October 4, 2007 - Commissioner Sought for Ethics and Elections Commission The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission (SEEC) is looking for a candidate to fill a vacancy in the Commission-appointed position on the SEEC.

The SEEC is a seven-member, volunteer citizen body that interprets, administers and enforces the Seattle Ethics Code, Elections Code, and Election Pamphlet Code. Commission members usually spend between two and ten hours per month on SEEC business. The SEEC considers complaints, renders advisory opinions; publishes guides to the codes it enforces, and conducts educational programs on the Commission-administered codes. It also can hold hearings and make findings on alleged violations of the Ethics or Elections Codes. Some of its other responsibilities include enforcing limitations on campaign contributions, publishing the election pamphlet; and maintaining reports required by the City’s election campaign code.

Members are appointed to the SEEC for three-year terms and can be reappointed. The successful candidate will be selected by the six current commissioners, and must be confirmed by the City Council. The appointee will serve out the remainder of a term ending on December 31, 2010. Women, persons with disabilities, sexual minorities, and persons of color are encouraged to apply.

To be considered for appointment to the SEEC, please send a letter of interest and resume via e-mail to wayne.barnett at seattle.gov. Or mail to:

Wayne Barnett, Executive Director
Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission
P.O. Box 94729
Seattle, Washington 98124-4729

Letters and interests must be received by October 31, 2007. For more information, please contact the SEEC’s Executive Director, Wayne Barnett, at (206) 684-8577 or via e-mail.

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Update: On January 28, 2008, the City Council confirmed Ed Carr to a term ending December 31, 2009. For more information about Mr. Carr see Commissioner Biographies.

July 20, 2007 - Order Staying Proceedings
The SEEC Chair has agreed to an order staying proceedings in the matter concerning Frank Colacurcio, Sr., Frank Colacurcio, Jr., and Marsha Furfaro, until completion of the criminal trial pending against them in the King County Superior Court.

Respondents' Motion and Agreed Order Staying Proceedings

Update: On January 23, 2008 the Commission accepted a settlement agreement with Frank Colacurcio, Sr. and Frank Colacurcio, Jr.. You may read the settlement agreement in its entirety here.

July 18, 2007 - Notice of Public Hearing and Intent To Adopt Rules
The Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at 4:00 p.m., in Room 4080, Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104 to consider and to hold votes on the following:

Amendments to its administrative rules, which govern the Commission’s procedures:

Draft Administrative Rules

Draft Administrative Rules - Redlined version
showing additions and deletions to existing text

Amendments to the elections code rules, which elaborate on the requirements that campaigns must satisfy when filing reports with the Commission:

Draft Election Code Rules

Draft Election Code Rules - Redlined version
showing additions and deletions to existing text

The Executive Directors’ Mini Campaign Reporting Rule, which exempts campaigns that raise and spend very little money from many of the Elections Code’s reporting requirements:

Draft Mini Campaign Reporting Rules

The Commission will hear verbal comment at the hearing, and will accept hand-delivered written comments through the close of the hearing on Wednesday, August 1, 2007. Written comments sent to the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission at P.O. Box 94729, Seattle, WA 98124-4729 or by e-mail to ethicsandelections at seattle.gov, must be received by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 31, 2007.

June 6, 2007 - The Executive Director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission delivered to the Commission today charges against Frank Colacurcio Sr., Frank Colacurcio, Jr., and Marsha Furfaro alleging violations of Seattle’s Elections Code. The charges allege that the three concealed contributions to two incumbent Councilmembers in the 2003 election cycle, and also that they contributed more than the $650 contribution limit to the two Councilmembers. Violations of the Elections Code carry a maximum civil penalty of $5,000, plus two times the amount of any contributions found to be in violation of the law.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney filed charges against the Colacurcios and Furfaro in July 2005. The State Supreme Court ruled in March that the case against the defendants could go forward, and the defendants filed a motion for reconsideration in April. That motion is still pending before the State Supreme Court.

Copies of the Notices of Charges are available here:

• Frank Colacurcio Sr.
• Frank Colacurcio Jr.
• Marcia Furfaro

June 5, 1996 - The Commission accepted the proposed settlement with Thomas Stewart regarding violations of the Elections Code.