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Chris Mulick has worked for the Herald since 1998 and has served as the statehouse correspondent covering state government and politics since 2000. He works year-round out of the Herald's Olympia bureau on the state Capitol campus. Have a question? Send Chris an e-mail and he'll answer the best questions regularly. |
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closeThe Attorney General’s Office just announced that it has filed lawsuits against the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties and the Building Industry Association of Washington’s Member Services Corporation.
The suits stem from a complaint filed with the Public Disclosure Commission that the groups were not fully accounting for money they are spending on this year’s gubernatorial campaign. Republican Dino Rossi is getting heavy support from builders groups.
The PDC referred the issue to the Attorney General’s Office during a special meeting Monday.
“The Attorney General’s Office accepted both cases, reviewed the investigations and confirmed there was sufficient evidence to file,” an AGO press release reads.
The complaints were filed in Thurston County Superior Court today.
UPDATE: BIAW spokeswoman Erin Shannon just issued a statement indicating the organization is not surprised.
“BIAW has nothing to hide from the PDC, and we never have,” she said. “BIAW goes to great lengths to comply with PDC rules, but as with many rules, some are open to varying interpretations.”
Further, the BIAW has filed an ethics complaint against PDC Chairman Ken Schellberg over alleged membership in organizations founded or headed by one of the original complainants in the case. The BIAW argues Schellberg should have recused himself in the matter arguing any such membership constitutes a conflict of interest.
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