The state public disclosure commission says Bellevue Deputy Mayor Conrad Lee is guilty of campaign violatins for failing to report expenditures in a timely manner during his 2009 bid for re-election.
The commission ordered Lee’s campaign to pay a $500 fine, which will be reduced to $300 if there are no violations during his next run for office.
The minimal $300 payment is due within 60 days.
The PDC says Lee failed to report $23,427 in expenditures and $3,981 spent on election mailings in a timely manner.
Lee said he thought the reports were due after his invoices came in, but they are actually required at the time of payment.
“It was strictly a misunderstanding by my treasurer,” Lee said. “This was minor. It was wrong. It’s an error. We won’t do it again.”
Lee will not contest the PDC decision.
“I’ll pay the fine and move on,” he said.
The commission dismissed separate allegations that the deputy mayor used city resources to assist his campaign.
Stephen Finley, who filed the complaint, alleged that Lee took advantage of city facilities by posing with a uniformed Bellevue firefighter and fire truck for one of his mailings.
Asked whether the PDC ruling would affect his reputation, Lee said: “No way Jose. People have other things in their lives to worry about. We have a financial crisis and budget problems to pay attention to.”
Lee then launched into a diatribe about Sound Transit, saying the agency is trying to force its will on the city with regard to light-rail routing. He said that is an issue constituents should be more concerned about.
