Wilson campaign was hit with $250 ‘Momgate’ fine

Future Seattle mayoral candidates be warned — Money given to you by family members to help with personal expenses during your run for City Hall are subject to campaign finance rules. The Katie Wilson campaign was fined $250 after the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission director ruled $10,000 given to the candidate by her parents for childcare should have been reported as campaign contributions.

“In line with this advisory opinion, and in order to avoid creating an avenue for our
campaign finance regulations to be easily circumvented, I conclude that the funds from the
candidate’s parents to help her with childcare expenses incurred because of her candidacy are campaign contributions,” SEEC director Wayne Barnett wrote in the December decision.

In the decision, Barnett acknowledged that “the Mayor-elect cooperated with staff in resolving this issue by refunding to her mother the amount by which her and her husband’s contributions exceeded the City’s contribution limit, and getting her reports in order.”

“Because this was a novel issue— it’s the first time it has arisen in a City election campaign—I am imposing a penalty of only $250. In the future, campaigns can expect stiffer penalties for accepting this kind of support,” Barnett said.

CHS reported here on the “Momgate” controversy as incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell made a campaign issue out of a report that Wilson’s parents had helped pay for childcare for Wilson’s daughter.

Both campaigns matched up financially toe to toe with each powered by tens of thousands of dollars in support and more than $1 million each in total contributions and Democracy Vouchers.

More than a $1 million was also raised by the largest political action committee supporting Harrell as smaller PACs raised hundreds of thousands more to boost both the incumbent and the triumphant Wilson.

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