The state’s campaign finance watchdog has dismissed a complaint that alleged a secret donor gave money to a group working to get Aaron Reardon elected county executive last fall.
Paul Coates of Mill Creek filed a complaint against the political action committee People for Ethical Government, claiming that committee founder Young Ja Lee was not the true source of a $16,600 contribution.
Lee, a U.S. Postal Service clerk, later told investigators under oath that the money did come from her, and she wasn’t reimbursed for the contribution by others.
Because the donation did not come from a secret source, no laws were broken. Doug Ellis, spokesman for the state Public Disclosure Commission, said the commission would take no further action on the complaint.
"In doing the investigation, they found the information was reported accurately and the funds came from the individual in question," Ellis said.
People for Ethical Government was originally formed as the "Friends of Aaron Reardon" on Sept. 2, 2003, but the group changed its name to People for Ethical Government on Sept. 11.
The group notified the state of the $16,600 contribution a week before the primary election. The donation was made Aug. 28, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. The money was used to hire a political consultant and for pamphlets to support Reardon’s campaign.
All told, the group spent $32,600 during the election.
The commission opened its investigation on Sept. 19 and notified Coates Friday that the probe was finished.
Coates could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. He told The Herald earlier that he filed the complaint as a voter and not on behalf of any political party.
Reardon, a Democrat, was elected Snohomish County executive in November.
Reporter Brian Kelly: 425-339-3422 or kelly@heraldnet.com.
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