OLYMPIA – When Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed came to The Herald for an endorsement interview Oct. 12, he arrived in his official state vehicle driven by his campaign manager.
On Monday, state Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt cried foul, filing a formal complaint with the Executive Ethics Board alleging that using the car for a campaign activity violated state rules.
“This isn’t an election mistake,” said Kirstin Brost, Democratic Party spokeswoman. “This is the chief election officer. He should know better.
Berendt included photos taken in The Herald parking lot of Reed, his campaign manager Justin Anderson and the car. A volunteer for Laura Ruderman, Reed’s Democratic challenger, took the photos and provided them to the state party.
Reed and Ruderman met together with members of The Herald editorial board at 2 p.m. Oct. 12. The meeting lasted about an hour.
Anderson said Reed did not plan to return to his Thurston County home because the next day he needed to be in Seattle for a 7:30 a.m. work meeting.
It seemed reasonable to use the car rather than drive “all the way down and all the way back up,” Anderson said. “Sam is an honest person. He doesn’t waste state resources.”
No one could be reached yesterday at the Executive Ethics Board. According to the panel’s Web site, the board, following an investigation, may dismiss the allegations, issue a civil penalty or a letter of concern, instruction or reprimand.
Brost said no action is expected before the Nov. 2 election.
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