WASHINGTON STATE
EXECUTIVE ETHICS BOARD
July 10, 2026
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 Megan Abel at 9:00 a.m. In attendance were Vice Chair Cam Comfort and
Members Kelli Hooke, David Hankins and Mark Rapozo. Board staff in attendance
included: Executive Director Kate Reynolds, Assistant Attorney General Suzanne
Becker, Assistant Attorney General Julia Eisentrout, Administrative Officer
Ruthann Bryant, and Senior Digital Forensic Investigator Justin Cotte.
2. Approval of Agenda
Motion 26-076 Moved by Vice Chair Comfort,
seconded by Member Hooke:
The Board approved the July
10, 2026 agenda as presented.
The motion passed unanimously.
3. Approval of the May 8, 2026 Meeting
Minutes
Motion 26-077 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Chair Abel:
The Board approved the May 8,
2026 minutes as presented.
Voting For: Chair Abel, Vice Chair Comfort and Members Hankins and
Rapozo.
Not Voting: Member Hooke.
The motion passed.
B. Enforcement Matters
Stipulations
EEB
Case 2024-003 (Jolly)
Senior Digital Forensic Investigator Justin
Cotte briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter of James
Jolly, Correctional Unit Supervisor at Stafford Creek Corrections Center with the Department of Corrections.
James Jolly agreed they may have violated the Ethics in Public Service Act when
they used state resources to support and promote Mountain Forged Hunting (MFH)
and used their position for private benefit by using state computers to display
screen savers promoting MFH and selling merchandise to coworkers. The proposed order imposes a civil
penalty of $500 with $250 suspended.
EEB
Case 2024-074 (Wistie)
Senior Digital Forensic Investigator Justin
Cotte also briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter
of Daniel Wistie, Intrastate Operations Manager with the Department of
Corrections. Daniel Wistie agreed that they may have violated the Ethics in
Public Service Act by using state resources for private benefit and gain. Evidence indicated that they used their state
computer for extensive personal internet activity to include YouTube, social
media, shopping and banking websites. The proposed order imposes a civil
penalty of $2,000 with $750 suspended.
EEB
Case 2024-077 (Poole)
Senior Digital Forensic Investigator
Justin Cotte also briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the
matter of Tara-Lynn Poole, Administrative Assistant 5 with the Department of
Ecology. Tara-Lynn Poole agreed that they may have violated the Ethics in
Public Service Act when they held outside employment with Bayview Catering and
used their position to use Bayview catering for meetings on several occasions. The
proposed order imposes a civil penalty of $1,000 with $500 suspended.
Executive
Director Dismissal
Kate Reynolds summarized an
Executive Director Dismissal in
EEB Case 2024-077 (Alexander).
The Board deferred action on enforcement matters until after their
closed session.
C. Advisory Opinion Review
Executive Director Kate Reynolds continued
with the advisory opinion review project and presented a group of Advisory Opinions related
to the use of state resources for political purposes.
The Board suggested small amendments to two of the advisory
opinions.
Motion 26-078 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Vice Chair Comfort:
The Board
approved updates to the following Advisory Opinions as amended:
§
Advisory Opinion 98-09: Use of Resources for Political
Campaigns
§ Advisory
Opinion 99-01: Definition
of Legislative Body/Political Activities
The Board approved updates
to the following Advisory Opinions:
·
Advisory Opinion 96-10: Use
of Employee Mailing List by Agency Elected Officer
·
Advisory Opinion 00-08: Use of State Resources/Political
Campaigns/Officer or Employee Title
·
Advisory Opinion 02-04: Use of State Facilities, Including
Electronic Mail, to Distribute Newspaper Articles and Editorial Opinions
·
Advisory Opinion 03-02: Use of State Resources/Political
Campaigns/Voters Pamphlet Statements
·
Advisory Opinion 04-01: Use of Agency Websites to Provide
Links to Private Web Sites that Advocate for or Against Ballot Initiative or
Political Candidates
·
Advisory Opinion 08-04: Posting Political Signs in State-Owned
Housing
The motion passed unanimously.
D. Policy Review
Administrative Officer Ruthann Bryant presented the Governor’s
Office Guidance Chart: Initiatives and recommended approval.
Motion 26-079 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Member Hooke:
The Board
approved the Governor’s Office Guidance Chart: Initiatives as presented.
The motion passed
unanimously.
E. Staff Reports
No
staff reports were given.
F. Public Comment/Board Member Comment
No
public or Board Member comments were given.
G. Closed Session
At 9:23
am the Board moved into Closed Session.
At 10:45 am the Board returned to regular session and reported the
following:
Motion 26-079 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Vice Chair Comfort:
The Board approved the Stipulated
Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2025-003 James Jolly, imposing
a civil penalty of $500 with $250 suspended.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-080 Moved by Vice Chair Comfort,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board approved the
Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2024-074
Daniel Wistie, imposing a civil penalty of $2,000 with $750 suspended.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-081 Moved by Member Hooke,
seconded by Vice Chair Comfort:
The Board approved the
Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2024-085
Tara-Lynn Poole, imposing a civil penalty of $1,000 with $500 suspended.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-082 Moved by Vice Chair Comfort,
seconded by Member Hooke:
The Board
found reasonable cause over $500 in EEB Case 2024-043/2025-001
Tyrone Jones.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-083 Moved by Member Hooke,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2024-051 Lekha Fernandes.
Voting for: Vice Chair Comfort, Members Hankins, Hooke and Rapozo.
Not voting: Chair Abel.
The motion passed.
Motion 26-084 Moved by Chair Abel,
seconded by Member Hooke:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2024-056 Laura Starr and EEB Case 2024-060 Bradley Starr.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-085 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Member Hooke:
The Board
found reasonable cause of $500 or less in EEB Case 2024-058 Justin Childers.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-086 Moved by Vice Chair
Comfort, seconded by Chair Abel:
The Board
found reasonable cause over $500 in EEB Case 2024-063
Austin Kandior.
Voting for: Chair Abel, Vice Chair Comfort and Members Hooke and
Rapozo.
Voting against: Member Hankins
The motion passed.
Motion 26-087 Moved by Member Rapozo,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2025-090 Michelle Welch.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-088 Moved by Member Hooke,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board
determined that any violation that may have occurred is not within the
jurisdiction of the Board and dismissed EEB Case 2025-092
Genta Iwasaki.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-089 Moved by Vice Chair Comfort,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board issued a Default
and Final Order in EEB Case 2024-041 Aaron Carlson, imposing a civil penalty of
$6,000.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-090 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Member Hooke:
The Board issued a Default
and Final Order in EEB Case 2024-042 Erik Lawrence, imposing a civil penalty of
$6,000.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-091 Moved by Chair Abel,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board issued a Default
and Final Order in EEB Case 2024-068 Wayne Clark, imposing a civil penalty of
$5,500.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-092 Moved by Vice Chair Comfort,
seconded by Chair Abel:
The Board issued a Default
and Final Order in EEB Case 2024-069/2026-007 LaMeshia Reese-Taylor, imposing a
civil penalty of $10,000.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-093 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Vice Chair Comfort:
The Board issued a Default
and Final Order in EEB Case 2024-088 Lisa Narciso, imposing a civil penalty of
$3,000.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 26-094 Moved by Member Hooke,
seconded by Vice Chair Comfort:
The Board issued a Default
and Final Order in EEB Case 2025-075 Anthony Distefano, imposing a civil
penalty of $1,500.
The motion passed unanimously.
H. Miscellaneous Matters/Adjournment
There
being no miscellaneous matters, the meeting was adjourned at 10:55 a.m.
Approved by the Board 9/11/26