PUD candidate again in hot water

By KATHY DAY

Herald Writer

EVERETT — Tim Harrigan, a candidate for a seat on the Snohomish County PUD commission, has failed to file required campaign spending documents, state officials said Friday.

When contacted by The Herald, Harrigan said he didn’t know he was required to file the information during the course of the election.

Harrigan paid a $50 penalty in September for not meeting disclosure deadlines, said Lori Anderson of the state Public Disclosure Commission.

She said Friday afternoon that Harrigan was again in violation of mandatory reporting requirements.

Harrigan is challenging board president Kathy Vaughn in the race to represent the southwestern area of the utility district. He said Friday he planned to complete and mail the forms later in the day.

"I didn’t know they had dates on them," he said when told that state law requires disclosure statements be filed on Oct. 17 and 31 indicating how much money a candidate has raised, contributed to his own campaign or spent on the race. A third form must be filed after the election.

"I just paid for everything in cash myself," he said. He said he’s put about $4,500 into the campaign for large and small signs and newspaper advertising.

Vaughn, who has filed 31 forms since registering to run on Aug. 8, had a total of $8,690 in cash and in-kind contributions as of the Oct. 31 filing. The statement indicates she has spent $7,289.48 — on signs, campaign buttons, advertising and public records request, had $1,400.52 on hand and liabilities of $1,600 by that date.

Anderson said she called Harrigan Thursday and Friday, but he hadn’t returned her calls.

"I wanted to find out what the deal was … and attempt to get him in compliance," she said.

Harrigan told The Herald that he had not received messages from Anderson. He said later that he called and left a voice mail message for her after being informed that Anderson was trying to reach him.

Anderson said no immediate enforcement action would be taken because a determination has to made whether the violation merits any action.

On Aug. 31, the commission sent Harrigan a letter informing him that he had missed the deadline for filing a candidate registration statement form as well as a statement of financial affairs. The letter stated that the forms were to be filed by Sept. 8 or he would face an enforcement hearing and possible civil penalties.

The letter also stated that if he intended to raise and spend more than $2,000 he would have to file additional reports.

A second letter was sent to him on Sept. 13, setting a hearing date and informing the candidate that he could avoid the hearing by sending a "statement of understanding, the missing reports and $50 for each missing report."

On Sept. 19, he filed the registration statement and on Oct. 4 the commission office received the statement of understanding and a check for $50.