Whatcom County Executive fined over 2015 jail mailer

Associated Press

BELLINGHAM — State campaign regulators have fined Whatcom County Executive Jack Louws for violations related to a mailer sent to county voters during a 2015 push for a new jail.

The Bellingham Herald reported the Public Disclosure Commission on Thursday fined Louws $1,000, with $500 suspended if there are no similar violations in the next four years. Louws will personally pay the fine.

The commission found that Louws, who had the final say on the mailer, should be fined for not showing the likely cost of a new Whatcom County Jail and only sending the mailer to households with at least one registered voter.

Louws said he’s sorry a perfect document wasn’t sent out but said he was trying to solve a problem.

Before sending the flier, the county’s consultant asked the PDC to try to clarify what was allowed but the commission no longer reviews mailers for compliance due to budget cuts.

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