Payment to James business treated as campaign gift

Joseph James

Thomas and Beth Baker boarded their dog at Joseph James’ dog boarding business in Stevenson several times last year, and usually paid by check.

But the last time they used the service, the Camas couple put the $200 fee on a credit card. When their statement came, they were surprised to learn that the payment had gone to an organization called Complete Campaigns, which offers Web-based services to help campaigns track supporters, votes, fund-raising and volunteers.

James, a Republican who is running for an open House seat in the 17th District, paid the San Diego company $311 in credit card processing fees between Dec. 24, 2007, and Jan. 15, 2008, according to state campaign finance records.

On Jan. 2, James’ campaign reported a $200 contribution from Thomas Baker.

Baker said he never intended for his dog care payment to end up in James’ campaign chest.

James did not return calls to his campaign office and mobile phone seeking comment.

When Baker confronted James about the charge, he said, James “told us that he felt he didn’t deserve payment for the services rendered so he decided to ‘donate’ our funds to Complete Campaigns.”

“Instead of our money paying for the services of boarding our animals, the money went directly to somebody’s campaign — without our consent,” Baker said. “After the fact, he tells me that he donated the money and asked if that was OK.”

Since his name turned up as a contributor to James’ campaign, the Bakers have received numerous campaign funding solicitation calls.

“Why would the Republican Party endorse a political candidate who gathers campaign funds using such unethical procedures?” Thomas Baker said. He said he and his wife no longer patronize James’ Dog Adventure Camp.

Lori Anderson, spokeswoman for the Washington Public Disclosure Commission, said transfers such as the one James’ campaign made are a clear violation of campaign finance rules.

“The campaign needs to be operated completely and totally separate from his business,” she said. “Candidates register a bank account with the PDC. The money that goes into that account should be money from campaign contributors who have voluntarily contributed to his campaign. If he decides he wants to make a contribution from his business, it should be money that has been in a business account and then gets moved to his campaign account. No shortcuts.”

James has raised $114,235 in cash and $92,605 in-kind contributions, including $34,000 in personal funds donated to his own campaign, in his race against Democrat Tim Probst for the 17th District seat formerly held by Republican Rep. Jim Dunn.