The Public Disclosure Commission concluded that Better Future for Washington, a PAC fully funded -- to the tune of $250,000 -- by the Washington State Senate Democrats violated RCW 42.17.565(2), in delaying filing of a report about a lying hit piece against Republican incumbent Val Stevens, on behalf of challenger Fred Walser.
Shatki Hawkins, a consultant for the PAC, and Jason Bennett, the PAC's treasurer (also Fred Walser's treasurer) admitted to the PDC that they mailed the hit piece on September 18, 2008, costing over $40,000. As it is an electioneering communication, it had to be filed in a C-6 form by Friday, September 19. But they put the date of September 20 -- two days after it was mailed, and a day after it was required to be reported -- on the form, and did not file the report until September 22.
The Senate Democrats have dumped over $75,000 into Fred Walser's campaign, despite the fact that he is a convicted criminal currently under a one-year jail sentence for lying to public servants, and Walser and the Democrats have both lied about Stevens in hit pieces: Walser lied about Stevens and police, Better Future for WA lied about Stevens and domestic violence.
And now the PDC makes clear that they also violated the law, probably in order to not tip their hand about the piece being mailed until it was already received by voters.
From a campaign and candidate that have been built on lies, this is completely unsurprising.
Cross-posted on <pudge/*>.
Posted by pudge at October 16, 2008 02:00 PM | Email ThisBut, it was a PAC putting out this garbage. The tribes must be counselling this PAC, but if so, they are still a year early for filing.
Posted by: swatter on October 16, 2008 02:46 PMIt was a PAC fully funded by the Senate Democrats, who are also the largest contributor to Fred Walser's campaign.
Granted, it is not Fred Walser. But no one should think that they are acting without Walser's complicity ... especially since he already said he thought the lies told in Better Future's mailers were "accurate."
Posted by: pudge on October 16, 2008 02:51 PMBefore you hit the road with a sign decrying the crimes of Fred Walser, I implore you to look into the most pressing issues facing our community.
In the 39th, we have a crumbling infrastructure and a road (US 2) that has claimed an unnecessary amount of lives. As a police officer for 40 years (28 as WSP and 11 as Police Chief of Sultan) Mr. Walser knows how hellacious these crashes can be. In fact, he started a very influential organization about 15 years ago called the US 2 safety coalition designed to call attention to the deadly situation out on US 2. Every single state and local politician showed up at these meetings (Dems and Repubs) except one very important one our State Senator - Val Stevens.
That is why Mr. Walser is running. Sen. Stevens is not visible in this community and she does not go to many community events whereas other politicians are always there.
Mr. Walser on the other hand has been in this community for over 40 years working with seniors, kids, and adults -- setting up many positive programs including safe stop in Sultan, a BMX track, and working to get a trap shooting range up and going. Many many more.
Many people have looked into the Sultan issue that pudge continues to raise and conclude that it is a small lapse in an otherwise stellar career in public service to our rural community. In spite of this every local news paper has thrown their endorsement behind Mr. Walser and in all cases is the only Dem in our district that these papers endorse. these papers include: Everett Hearld, Monroe Monitor, Marysville Glode, Arlington Times -- many more.
You need to realize that pudge's position as chairman of the 39th GOP does not make his opinion truly unbiased. He has been instrumental in Mr. Walser's character assassination, working on a clumsy and dishonest blog and helping to produce a nasty hit piece.
Please talk to Mr. Walser before you condemn him. He has put his life on the line for so many years. He truly wants to serve the interests of the 39th. Im not a partisan. Like all of you I vote on the issues. Im a policy wonk. Stick to the issues of this community. Many people have been able to look past part distinction to someone that can get results. Can you?
Posted by: zrs on October 17, 2008 08:15 AMI am still waiting for ANYONE to prove ANYTHING I've said about Fred Walser is false.
Anything. You attack me for a "dishonest" web site. Prove it. Name a single thing on there that's false. Can you? No one else has been able to. No one who has looked into all the facts can honestly conclude it was a memory lapse or clerical error as Walser has said.
Indeed, the Herald endorsement literally ignored the facts against Walser in order to justify its endorsement.
But let's talk about Walser's accomplishments. Yes, he knows about crashes. And he lies about them, too, to protect his friends. Just like he lied to protect Pepperell when he was Police Chief. Just like he has lied many times about Val Stevens, including attacking her for not going to U.S. 2 Safety Coalition meetings even though he never invited her.
These are facts. But go ahead and ignore those facts, and pretend that I am being dishonest.
Indeed, Walser's lies go so far as to take credit for getting millions for U.S. 2 last session, even though that was mostly because of the work of Dan Kristiansen's efforts in the House, and Val Stevens' work to shame Senator Mary Margaret Haugen in the Senate Transportation Committee, offering an amendment to divert funds from a proposed Amtrak station in Haugen's district to U.S. 2 safety, since Democrat Haugen wouldn't provide more funding, despite promising to do so.
(This is the same Haugen who said that she was punishing voters in the 39th by not funding U.S. 2., because the citizens voted the wrong way. Yes, literally, the deaths on U.S. 2 are in part attributable to Walser's ally Mary Margaret Haugen, for putting partisanship ahead of lives.)
And who are you to attack me for being unbiased? How are you anymore unbiased than me?
Oh right, but Stevens is "not visible" in the community. More unsubstantiated lies.
What we have here is a pathetic attempt to try to get you to ignore the facts, from a campaign that lost by 19 points in the primary, so has resorted to spending tens of thousands of dollars doing what Walser does best: lie, lie, and lie again.
I believe that Walser has a history of corruption as mayor and chief. The one incident isn't isolated. He will have his supporters but it is hard to argue a conviction.
Posted by: swatter on October 17, 2008 03:29 PMOne should also consider Fred Walser's contradiction in judgement against his own cause. Walser is advocating for the safety of Highway 2 with wider lanes and rumble strips, etc. However, according to investigative reports, Walser produced a falsified report and testimony for a wreckless driving accident involving the case of a police officer's son. Personnel files show Walser was disciplined for this stunt by WSP. Does Walser really care about the safety of others when he lies to get a negligent driver off the hook for endangering others? What message does this send? All the widening and rumble strips in the world will not stop deaths on Highway 2 if bad drivers are not prosecuted as well.
Mr. Walser has not proven himself to be trusted nor believed. He still lies about his illegal actions in the Carole Pepperell investigation/case. His interference in the investigations of Pepperell's database abuse and the fatal dog poisoning with a controlled substance is utterly disgusting. Investigations showed records were missing/altered and Walser nor Pepperell would speak with Everett Police Dept. investigators. Shockingly, investigators never discovered that active DOH pharmacy license at Sultan Police Dept. during the timeframe of the fatal dog poisoning. Imagine the challenges of trying to solve a crime with a Chief of Police assisting in a cover-up with the alleged suspect, his co-worker. Tampering and compromising the integrity of an investigation is just plain......wrong.
Corruption in law enforcement or in politics is NOT good! Just because Walser has law enforcement background does not necessarily make him a "Good Cop" nor a "Good Senator". Take a better look at his record....it paints quite a different picture than what Walser, his followers, or the Herald would have you believe.
Voters....trust your better instincts when you vote for Senator in the 39th District. A person of truth and of good character will serve you better. Vote for Val Stevens! She will lead the 39th District in truth.