WASHINGTON STATE
EXECUTIVE ETHICS BOARD
May 9, 2025
Regular Meeting Minutes
A. Preliminary Business
1. Roll Call
The regular meeting of the Washington State Executive Ethics Board
(Board) was called to order by Chair Kelli Hooke at 9:00 a.m. In attendance were Vice Chair Megan Abel and Members
Cam Comfort, David Hankins and Mark Rapozo. Board staff in attendance
included: Executive Director Kate
Reynolds, Senior Assistant Attorney General Chad Standifer, Assistant Attorney
General Julia Eisentrout, Administrative Officer Ruthann Bryant, and Senior
Digital Forensic Investigators Justin Cotte and Swift Sanchez.
Chair Hooke introduced and welcomed the Board’s new member, Mark
Rapozo.
2. Approval of Agenda
The Board added a
discussion item regarding their default order process.
Motion 25-043 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Vice Chair Abel:
The Board approved the May 9,
2025 agenda as amended.
The motion passed unanimously.
3. Approval of the March 14, 2025, Meeting Minutes
Motion 25-044 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Vice Chair Abel:
The Board approved the March
14, 2025 minutes as presented.
Voting for: Chair Hooke, Vice Chair Abel and Members Comfort and
Hankins.
Not voting: Member Rapozo.
The motion passed.
4. Approval of the April 3, 2025, Meeting Minutes
Member Hankins noted
an edit to change the year in one of the motions.
Motion 25-045 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Vice Chair Abel:
The Board approved the March 14, 2025 minutes as amended.
Voting for: Vice Chair Abel
and Members Comfort and Hankins.
Not voting: Chair Hooke and
Member Rapozo.
The motion passed.
B. Enforcement Matters
Motion for Summary Judgment
EEB Case 2023-074 Diamante
Muhammad
Administrative
Law Judge Laura Bradley presided over oral argument on a Motion for Summary
Judgment regarding EEB Case 2023-074 Diamante Muhammad.
A
written order will be issued in the matter.
Stipulations
EEB
Case 2023-015 (Parker)
Senior Digital Forensic Investigator
Justin Cotte briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the
matter of Jason Parker, Corrections and Custody Officer 2 with the Department
of Corrections. Jason Parker agreed that they may have violated the Ethics in
Public Service Act by using state resources for personal benefit. Evidence indicated that Jason Parker used
state resources to browse the internet visiting websites
including Facebook, Instagram, Amazon and YouTube. The proposed order imposes a civil
penalty of $3,000 with $1,000 suspended.
EEB Case 2023-082 (Zorn)
Justin Cotte also briefed the Board on a
proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter of Jessica Zorn, a Classification Counselor 2 with the
Department of Corrections. Jessica Zorn agreed that they may have violated the
Ethics in Public Service Act by using state resources for personal
benefit. Evidence indicated that Jessica
Zorn used their DOC TEAMS account to conduct personal communications with a
fellow DOC employee and sent and received over 700 personal emails using their
state computer in a nine-month period. The proposed order
imposes a civil penalty of $1,500 with $500 suspended.
EEB
Case 2023-083 (Thompson)
Senior Digital Forensic Investigator
Justin Cotte briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the
matter of Jeffrey Thompson, Corrections Officer 2 with the Department of Corrections. Jeffrey Thompson agreed that
they may have violated the Ethics in Public Service Act by using state
resources for personal benefit. Evidence indicated that Jeffrey Thompson used
their DOC TEAMS account to conduct personal communications with a fellow DOC
employee. The proposed order imposes a civil penalty of $500 with $250
suspended.
Executive
Director Dismissal
Kate Reynolds summarized two
Executive Director Dismissals in EEB Case 2023-089 (Cohen) and EEB Case
2024-019 (Bryant).
The Board deferred action on the enforcement
matters until after their closed session.
C. Review of Draft Advisory Opinion 25-01
Executive Director Kate Reynolds presented a draft
Advisory Opinion related to the use of state resources by state employees
working to receive a college or educational certificate.
Motion 25-046 Moved by Chair Hooke,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board
approved Advisory Opinion 25-01 Paid Time for Certifications as presented.
The motion passed
unanimously.
D. Discussion of Default Order Process
Executive Director Kate Reynolds reported on the
options available when a matter is found to be in default. The Board can choose
to either issue a default order and provide a 10-day response period prior to
issuing a final order or the Board may choose to combine the default order and
final order into one document. Kate Reynolds noted that both options provide an
appeal process.
Motion 25-047 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Chair Hooke:
The Board voted
to combine the Order of Default and Final Order into one document.
The motion passed unanimously.
E. Staff Reports
Executive
Director Kate Reynolds reported that SB 5143 regarding the Ethics in Public
Service Act passed the Legislature and is awaiting Governor Ferguson’s signature.
Discussion and action items regarding rule-making will
be brought to a future meeting.
F. Public Comment/Board Member Comment
No
public or Board Member comments were given.
G. Closed Session
At 9:38
am the Board moved into Closed Session.
At 11:20 am the Board returned to regular session and reported the
following:
Motion 25-048 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board approved the Stipulated
Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2023-015 Jason Parker, imposing
a civil penalty of $3,000 with $1,000 suspended.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-049 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board approved the
Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2023-082
Jessica Zorn, imposing a civil penalty of $1,500 with $500 suspended.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-050 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board approved the
Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2023-083
Jeffrey Thompson, imposing a civil penalty of $500 with $250 suspended.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-051 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Chair Hooke:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2023-093 Rachel Shaeffer.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-052 Moved by Vice Chair Abel,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2023-094 Andrew Trana.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-053 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Vice Chair Abel:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause of $500 or less in EEB Case 2024-018 Brandon Schmierer.
Voting for:
Chair Hooke, Vice Chair Abel and Members Comfort and Rapozo.
Voting against:
Member Hankins.
The motion passed.
Motion 25-054 Moved by Member Rapozo,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2024-020 Nate Wilson.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-055 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Vice Chair Abel:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2024-025 Nate Nowobilski.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-056 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2024-072 Romesh Gautom.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-057 Moved by Chair Hooke,
seconded by Member Rapozo:
The Board
determined any violation that may have
occurred does not constitute a material violation because it was inadvertent
and minor, or has been cured, and, after consideration of all
of the circumstances, further proceedings would not serve the purposes
of this chapter and dismissed EEB Case 2024-072
Bob Ferguson.
Voting for: Chair Hooke and Member
Rapozo.
Voting against: Vice Chair Abel.
Not voting: Members Comfort and Hankins.
The motion passed.
Motion 25-058 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board issued a Final
Order of Default in EEB Case 2023-071 Daryl Hamilton-Manier, imposing a civil
penalty of $4,750.
Voting for:
Chair Hooke and Members Comfort, Hankins and Rapozo.
Not voting:
Vice Chair Abel.
The motion passed.
Motion 25-059 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Member Rapozo:
The Board issued a Final
Order of Default in EEB Case 2023-078 Lloyd Bookter, imposing a civil penalty
of $4,500.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-060 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Chair Hooke:
The Board issued a Final
Order of Default in EEB Case 2023-087 Jason English, imposing a civil penalty
of $5,000.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-061 Moved by Vice Chair Abel,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board issued a Final
Order of Default in EEB Case 2023-091 Miguel Islas-Sanchez, imposing a civil
penalty of $7,000.
The motion passed unanimously.
H. Miscellaneous Matters/Adjournment
There
being no miscellaneous matters, the meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
Approved by the Board 7/11/25