An attack ad targeting Spokane City Councilman Jonathan Bingle, who is running for re-election against reproductive rights organizer Sarah Dixit, has sparked controversy due to questionable disclosure practices. The ad was allegedly produced by an independent political committee funded by two unions that have endorsed Bingle. However, that committee no longer exists, and the so-called “error,” as described by the actual creators, appears to violate state election law.
The mailer itself follows a familiar formula: it features an unflattering photograph of Bingle alongside flashy text derisively linking him to former President Donald Trump. In small print, the disclosure states the ad was “Paid for by Citizens for Liberty and Labor,” listing top donors including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)—a labor union representing most of the city’s workers—and the Spokane Firefighters Union.
These disclosures are required by state law to inform voters about who is attempting to influence elections. However, the mailer’s attribution raised eyebrows because both AFSCME and the Spokane Firefighters Union have officially endorsed Bingle, the very candidate the ad targets.
**Misleading Disclosure Raises Legal and Ethical Questions**
The “Citizens for Liberty and Labor” is a real political action committee (PAC) that has been active in past years, including funding ads against Bingle’s conservative colleague, Spokane City Councilman Michael Cathcart, in 2023. Yet, the actual mailer was paid for by a different organization: the Eastern Washington Freedom for All PAC.
The Eastern Washington Freedom for All PAC acknowledged in an email that the false disclosure was “an error,” explaining that the incorrect committee name was “put on a draft version of the mailer as a placeholder for design purposes only, but unfortunately was not updated before printing.”
The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), which regulates election finances and disclosures, declined to comment on what they termed a “potential enforcement matter.” “We can’t comment in advance about something that someone could file as a complaint,” said commission spokesperson Natalie Johnson.
In a prepared statement, the PAC reiterated that the error was unintentional. “We regret the error and will ensure the right disclaimer language is included in subsequent mailings,” the organization wrote. “As a coalition based in our community, we are grateful for the organizations in labor and other groups in Spokane who fund this work and will ensure we continue to be good stewards of their dollars now and in the future.”
**Funding Sources Draw Further Scrutiny**
Interestingly, almost none of the PAC’s funding comes from Spokane or Eastern Washington. Of the $50,000 the organization has raised so far, all but $1,000 came from groups based in Seattle and Kent, Washington, according to the latest data submitted to the PDC.
NWP Consulting, a Seattle-based firm hired to design the mailer, and Lawton Printing, a Spokane-based print shop, did not respond to inquiries about how the error bypassed their quality controls.
Moreover, the reason why the error appeared on Bingle’s attack ad—but not on a mailer commissioned and mailed the same day supporting Spokane City Councilman Zack Zappone, who is also running for re-election—remains unclear. The Zappone mailer correctly discloses that it was commissioned by the Eastern Washington Freedom for All PAC.
**Bingle Questions Motives and PAC Connections**
Councilman Bingle expressed skepticism about the explanation that the false disclosure was accidental. The timing of the mailer’s release, coinciding with the arrival of ballots in voters’ mailboxes, makes correcting the record difficult.
“That’s the problem: There’s no real time to correct this,” Bingle said. “The damage has been done, which is why I think it’s so egregious from the group that sent this out. They know better than this.”
The Freedom for All PAC’s chairperson, Sabrina Kimm, previously served as co-chair of the Citizens for Liberty and Labor. Bingle also pointed out another connection: Geoffrey Bracken, the PAC’s treasurer, who served as a program manager at the state Department of Commerce while Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown led that agency. Bracken has worked for years on various political campaigns in roles including treasurer and campaign manager.
Importantly, Bracken also served as treasurer for the Citizens for Liberty and Labor PAC. Bingle questioned his involvement as treasurer for Dixit’s campaign.
While candidates have strict limits on campaign donations, political committees can spend unlimited amounts supporting or opposing candidates—provided they do not coordinate with the campaigns. These “independent expenditures” are required to be entirely separate.
“Having the same person work on both sides of that firewall raises questions about the integrity of that independence,” Bingle said. “I have a hard time believing that you can remain neutral in that space when you know what everybody else is doing. Even if you were, why would you want to cast doubt on a candidate you support by putting them in this position in the first place?”
**State Regulator Comments and Treasurer’s Response**
Natalie Johnson from the PDC noted that sharing treasurers between campaigns is not unusual. “A lot of campaigns use the same treasurers, especially professional treasurers,” she said. “I don’t know if it would be an ethical issue if they’re just keeping track of the books.”
She added, “If both organizations have the same treasurer and there’s an independent expenditure, then it’s possible there could be coordination, but it’s hard to tell without knowing the details of the case.”
In an interview, Bracken strongly denied any role beyond managing the books for Dixit’s campaign and the PAC. “I literally just report that they made expenditures,” he said. “I’m not involved in strategic decisions; I don’t have a say in how money is being spent. I can provide compliance, such as consulting with a disclosure or something like that.”
Although the PAC has paid Bracken $500 for compliance consulting, he said he was not asked to ensure the attack ad’s mailer complied with state law. “I can’t consult unless I’m consulted,” Bracken said.
Dixit also denied any strategic involvement by Bracken, praised his work in preventing compliance mistakes, and said she had not seen the mailer as of Friday afternoon.
**Candidates Stress Transparency and Accountability**
Regarding the possible impact of the misleading disclosure, Dixit said, “I support our state’s campaign finance transparency laws. I don’t want to speak for this group, so I’m not sure of the background on it, but I think we should be holding all people accountable, not just one side or another.”
Christian Sinderman, responding on behalf of the PAC, deferred to Bracken on whether there had been any inappropriate involvement in the PAC’s strategy.
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The controversy surrounding the false disclosure on this attack ad highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring transparency and compliance in political campaigning. Voters and regulators alike remain vigilant as the Spokane City Council race continues toward election day.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/oct/20/ad-attacking-bingle-falsely-attributes-wrong-commi/
