OLYMPIA – The state Legislative Ethics Board on Wednesday released its formal decision dismissing a complaint against Rep. John McCoy for his efforts to pass a law that would have steered millions of dollars to the Quil Ceda Village commercial center that he manages.
Commissioners agreed at their July 21 meeting that the allegations made by Philip Brendale lacked merit. The three-page decision released Wednesday explains why.
Brendale filed his complaint in April, accusing McCoy, D-Tulalip, of improperly lobbying and using public funds to influence the passage of House Bill 1721. That bill sought to allow the Tulalip Tribes to retain a portion of sales tax generated by shops in the strip mall.
Brendale contended that McCoy, as a tribal member, would have personally benefited from passage of the law and that he should have recused himself from voting on it, but did not.
Commissioners, relying on the results of an investigation done by its counsel, concluded that McCoy would not have gained financially from the law because tax revenue is not a source of money that the tribe distributes to its members. That meant McCoy could lobby his colleagues and vote on the bill.
“The complaint is dismissed for a lack of reasonable cause to believe there has been a violation of the act,” the commission said.
McCoy has said he did not think the complaint had merit. He has said he sought advice from the ethics adviser for the House of Representatives before approaching other lawmakers about the bill.
Brendale sent an e-mail to The Herald after receiving a copy of the decision Tuesday.
“Perhaps the findings of the ethics committee are true and accurate in this instance. Nevertheless, I intend to continue monitoring every political move he makes and urge others to join me,” he wrote.
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