Hutchison wants probe of Constantine campaign activities

King County Executive Susan Hutchison’s campaign is asking the state Public Disclosure Commission to investigate whether her opponent Dow Constantine committed campaign violations in his dealings with a PAC.

Hutchison’s campaign said a group called FAIRPAC made anti-Hutchison phone calls during the primary from its Virginia headquarters.

Under state law, independent expenditure committees are not allowed to coordinate with  candidates’ when campaigning on their behalf. Independent campaigns allow supporters to run ads and conduct other campaign activity beyond state campaign contribution limits.

What raised the Hutchison’s campaigns suspicions that FAIRPAC and Constantine were not acting independently was an Aug 5 Seattle Times report that FAIRPAC and the Constantine campaign employ the same treasurer, Jason Bennett.

Mr. Bennett has subsequently claimed to provide only “ministerial” services. But the Hutchison campaign noted that Constantine listed Mr. Bennett as a member of his campaign team in a Seattle Fire Fighters Local 27 questionnaire . Bennett also hosted a July 30th fundraiser for Constantine which he advertised on his consulting firm’s Twitter account.  

Constantine spokesman Sandeep Kaushik did not respond to the allegations. The Hutchison  campaign said in a statement, “The cozy relationship of special interests and politicians is a symptom of what’s wrong with King County government.  This corrupt activity is further evidence special interest groups will protect their favored status at the expense of King County taxpayers, and career politicians will ignore the law in order to ensure election.  Chairman Constantine has a deeply troubling association with this special interest attack group and Susan asks the Public Disclosure Commission to move quickly to fully investigate these campaign violations in order to hold those who may have broken the law accountable, end the practice of illegal coordination, and ensure complete fairness in the weeks ahead.”