Public Disclosure Commission dismisses firefighters complaint against Edmonds Can Do Better

The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) dismissed a complaint by firefighter Alex Johnson against the Edmonds Can Do Better (ECDB) committee, which alleged violations of financial disclosure rules. Johnson's complaint claimed that ECDB exceeded the $7,000 fundraising limit for mini-reporters, but the PDC found no evidence of wrongdoing after reviewing the committee's records. This marked the second complaint against ECDB; a prior complaint from the Snohomish County Firefighters PAC was dismissed because standard reporting rules do not apply to mini-reporters. PDC Compliance Officer Tabatha Townsend confirmed in a May 1 email that ECDB adhered to the financial limits set upon registration. The commission also investigated a complaint regarding the city's alleged misuse of public funds, concluding that any violations were minor and had been resolved.

In a statement on May 4, ECDB spokesperson Theresa Hutchison criticized the lack of transparency from elected officials during the campaign. As a final gesture, ECDB decided to donate its remaining funds to the Edmonds Food Bank, supporting local food security efforts. These developments underscore ongoing divisions within Edmonds regarding the annexation proposal that ECDB opposed.