Complaint against Clark County Council candidate Keplar claims he failed to report payments in earlier campaignUpdated 2 hours ago

A complaint filed with Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission claims Clark County Council candidate Chuck Keplar violated state campaign finance rules when he failed to disclose earnings he received while running for an Evergreen Public Schools board seat in 2023.

Middle school teacher William Baur filed the complaint Oct. 14, stating Keplar reported no payments in excess of $12,000, the reporting threshold set by the state, to The Logo Ladies LLC, a promotion goods and apparel company owned by Keplar and his wife. The financial disclosure report covered the period of April 9, 2023, to April 8, 2024.

“Purchase orders from Evergreen Public Schools, where Chuck Keplar sought elected office, show that The Logo Ladies … received numerous contracts from Evergreen Public Schools, a government agency. During the time covered by the financial disclosure, payments from Evergreen Public Schools to The Logo Ladies total at least $38,152.76, far exceeding $12,000. These government payments should have been disclosed in accordance with (state law),” Baur said in his complaint.

Evergreen School District records show 16 payments to The Logo Ladies during the reporting period ranging from $30 to nearly $10,000.

“It’s unfortunate that the complaint appears to be motivated by partisan politics,” Keplar said.

While the county council and school board positions are nonpartisan, Keplar has been endorsed by the Clark County Republican Party. Keplar lost the 2023 school board race to Rob Perkins. He filed to run for the District 3 council seat during filing week in May.

“At first glance, there are inaccuracies in the complaint. However, we have always taken PDC requirements very seriously,” Keplar said. “We are currently evaluating the complaint and will amend the filing if necessary.”

The PDC requires the disclosure of financial information to ensure public access to information about lobbying activities, the financial affairs of elected and appointed public officials, and campaign contributions and expenditures.