Tri-City candidate fined $2K for campaign violations. He still owes for his last race
A candidate for Kennewick School Board has been fined $2,000 for failing to disclose his financial ties and declare his candidacy with a state agency.
That’s on top of $500 in fines Mike Luzzo still owes the state Public Disclosure Commission for similar violations during his 2021 campaign for Richland City Council.
PDC commissioners at their Thursday meeting found Luzzo in violation of two Washington state campaign finance laws.
The Kennewick candidate was supposed to file a C-1 candidate registration form and F-1 financial affairs statement with the state by May 23. The two forms provide campaign transparency to voters and members of the public.
In all, Luzzo now owes about $2,500 in fines. He has yet to pay fines from this 2021 campaign.
Half of his fines could be suspended if he files the appropriate paperwork and payments within 30 days and keeps a clean record.
Luzzo did not attend the PDC hearing this week. And he could not be reached by the Herald about the fines.
The retired engineer is challenging Vice President Micah Valentine for his seat on the five-person Kennewick School Board. History professor Robert Franklin also is campaigning for that position.
Voters will choose two candidates during the Aug. 5 primary election to advance to the general election.
