What PDC filings reveal about Sammamish City Council campaigns
With the November 4 general election quickly approaching, many candidates are intensifying their efforts with a final push of pamphlets, signs, and door-to-door canvassing. Given the significant costs of running a campaign, candidates must raise funds or rely on donations to cover expenses. They are also required to publicly disclose their financial details.
The Sammamish Independent has reviewed the financial reports available on Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) website and presents an analysis of the findings as of this report.
Four out of nine candidates opt for mini reporting
Amy Lam, Jisha Govin, Sid Gupta, and Michael Boyer have all opted for mini reporting when registering with the PDC. Mini reporting exempts candidates from submitting detailed reports of donations and expenditures. However, candidates who choose this option must still maintain up-to-date internal records of all contributions and expenses, which must be made available for public review 10 days before the election.
Candidates using mini reporting are also subject to fundraising and spending limits. Their campaigns are capped at $7,000, and they cannot accept more than $500 from any single contributor.
Lin Yang leads in fundraising
Currently, Lin Yang leads the race with a total of $32,034.96 raised, all from contributions rather than loans. Of this amount, $30,794.98 comes from cash donations, while the remaining $1,239.98 consists of in-kind contributions, which are donations of goods and services rather than cash.
Yang has raised $18,491.16 more than the second highest candidate, Debbie Treen.
Debbie Treen’s funds primarily come from individuals
Debbie Treen has raised a total of $13,543.80 and spent $12,128.69. Of her funds, $8,643.80 comes from contributions (all cash, no in-kind) and $4,900 from loans. Unlike Howe or Yang, Treen’s funds come entirely from individuals, with no contributions from parties or PACs. Notable individuals include Heather Murphy Raines, who donated $103.48. Raines is known as one of the organizers of Save Our Sammamish.
Karen Howe receives support from individuals, PACs, and parties
Karen Howe has raised a total of $12,785.57 and spent $8,567.65. Her campaign began with a $343.68 balance, bringing in $7,699.66 from contributions and $4,742.23 from loans. Howe’s funding comes from a combination of individuals, PACs, and party organizations. Notably, she is the only full-reporting candidate to have received a contribution from Puget Sound Energy, totaling $400.
Josh Amato raises less than previous cycle
Josh Amato has raised significantly less than he did in his previous 2023 election cycle. For this election, he has raised a total of $12,289.97, with $8,250.88 from contributions and $4,039.09 from loans. In contrast, in his last election cycle, Amato led fundraising with over $21,000, nearly $4,000 more than his opponent, Pam Stuart.
Despite these changes, some of his notable contributors remain consistent. For example, Amato has received donations from Pierce County Prosecutor Mary Robnett in both election cycles. Additionally, Amato has contributed a significant amount to his own campaign. In his previous run, he donated $2,000 to his campaign. This time, he has donated $5,905.88, a mix of in-kind and cash contributions.
The Affordable Housing Council shows support for candidates
The Affordable Housing Council (AHC) is a political action committee affiliated with the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). The AHC works to promote policies supporting housing development in the Puget Sound region. The committee endorses candidates who prioritize housing accessibility and efforts to address regional housing needs.
The AHC has donated $2,400 to Yang and $1,200 to Howe.
The Democratic Party weighs in on this race
Party-affiliated donations have been registered for several candidates. The 41st District Democrats have made cash contributions to the campaigns of Lin Yang ($1,250) and Karen Howe ($750). The Washington State Democratic Party also provided in-kind donations to Yang, granting access to its voter outreach tools.
PDC complaint raises questions about Save Our Sammamish group
On Sept. 2, a complaint filed with the Public Disclosure Commission alleges that a group and a political action committee sharing the name Save Our Sammamish may have blurred lines under state campaign finance rules.
The complaint, submitted by Sammamish resident Kerry Bosworth, claims the group promoted candidates through its website, signs, and social media posts without registering as a political committee. It also cites an April 30 town hall hosted by the group that featured City Council Member Kent Treen, council candidate Debbie Treen, and former council member Karen Moran.
The PDC has not yet ruled on whether the group’s activities fall under political committee reporting requirements.
Harlan Gallinger has not registered with the PDC
Although Harlan Gallinger has registered with the PDC for previous election cycles, including campaigns for 41st Legislative District State Representative and Issaquah School District School Director, he has not registered for this election cycle. According to Washington’s campaign finance laws, candidates are required to file quarterly reports for the periods of January–March, April–June, July–September, and October–December. They must also file pre-election reports detailing donations and expenditures immediately before the election.
If reports are filed late or not filed at all, the PDC can impose penalties for noncompliance.
