WASHINGTON STATE
EXECUTIVE ETHICS BOARD
September 12, 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 and David Hankins. Board staff in attendance included: Executive
Director Kate Reynolds, Senior Counsel Matt Kernutt, Assistant Attorney General
Julia Eisentrout, Administrative Officer Ruthann Bryant, and Senior Digital
Forensic Investigators Justin Cotte and Swift Sanchez.
2. Approval of Agenda
Motion 25-062 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Vice Chair Abel:
The Board approved the September
12, 2025 agenda as presented.
The motion passed unanimously.
3. Approval of the May 9, 2025, Meeting
Minutes
Motion 25-063 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board approved the May 9, 2025 minutes as
presented.
The motion passed unanimously.
B. Enforcement Matters
Stipulations
EEB
Case 2024-010 (Quebedeaux)
Senior Digital Forensic Investigator Swift
Sanchez briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter of Brent
Quebedeaux, former
IT Business Analyst-Journey with the Heath Care
Authority. Evidence indicated that Brent Quebedeaux used an extensive amount of
time during business hours to work on their project management certification
and had approximately 151 hours of unaccounted work hours over a 26-day period. The proposed order imposes a civil
penalty of $2,500.
EEB Case 2024-018 (Schmierer)
Senior Digital Forensic Investigator Justin
Cotte briefed the Board on a proposed Stipulation and Order in the matter of Brandon
Schmierer, Program Support Supervisor 2
with the Department of Labor and Industries. Evidence indicated that Brandon
Schmierer was on an interview panel and did not disclose that their
friend/roommate was one of the candidates. The proposed order imposes a civil
penalty of $500 with $250 suspended.
Executive
Director Dismissals
Kate Reynolds summarized two
Executive Director Dismissals in
EEB Case 2024-011 (Christensen) and EEB Case 2024-021 (Scott).
The Board deferred action on enforcement matters until after their
closed session.
C. Policy Discussion
Executive Director Kate Reynolds requested that the
Board provide staff with the ability to approve agency policy reviews when the
changes are non-substantive. They added this would only be for policies
previously approved by the Board and staff would provide an updated approval
stamp.
Motion 25-064 Moved by Chair Hooke,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board
approved staff policy approvals for non-substantive changes such as
typographical errors, RCW updates and dollar amounts.
The motion passed
unanimously.
D. Policy Reviews
Administrative Officer Ruthann Bryant presented the
Board of Accountancy’s Ethics policy. It was noted that the policy was
previously approved by the Board in November of 2023. Updates include an expanded policy statement,
and the policy was reformatted and simplified.
Motion 25-065 Moved by Chair Hooke,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board
approved the Board of Accountancy’s Ethics policy as presented.
The motion passed
unanimously.
Administrative Officer Ruthann Bryant also presented
the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Raffle policy. It was noted that the policy
was previously approved by the Board in 2018 and staff recommended approval.
Motion 25-066 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Vice Chair Abel:
The Board
approved the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Raffle policy as presented.
The motion passed
unanimously.
Administrative Officer Ruthann Bryant also presented
the Health Care Authority’s Accepting Gifts policy. It was noted that the
policy was previously approved by the Board in 2024. Changes included updates
to reflect the RCW changes to the gift statute and updated definitions.
Motion 25-067 Moved by Chair Hooke,
seconded by Vice Chair Abel:
The Board
approved the Health Care Authority’s Accepting Gifts policy as presented.
The motion passed
unanimously.
Administrative Officer Ruthann Bryant also presented
the Health Care Authority’s Outside Employment policy. It was noted that the
policy was previously approved by the Board in 2024.
The Board requested clarification of use of state
resources related to “publications of the agency” and will review the policy
again at their next meeting.
E. Advisory Opinion Review
Executive Director Kate Reynolds discussed Advisory
Opinion 00-05 Cash Awards from Non-profit. It was noted that with the gift law
change in July 2025 increasing the gift value amount from $50 to $100, may
result in a different analysis.
Following discussion, the Board requested that the
law change be noted in the summary of changes section of the opinion and brought
back to a future meeting for Board review.
F. Staff Reports
No
staff reports were given.
G. Public Comment/Board Member Comment
No
public or Board Member comments were given.
H. Closed Session
At 9:28
am the Board moved into Closed Session.
At 11:30 am the Board returned to regular session and reported the
following:
Motion 25-068 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Chair Hooke:
The Board approved the Stipulated
Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2024-014, imposing a
civil penalty of $2,500.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-069 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Chair Hooke:
The Board approved the
Stipulated Facts, Conclusions of Law and Agreed Order in EEB Case 2024-018, imposing
a civil penalty of $500 with $350 suspended.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-070 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2023-095 Rowan Kelsall.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-071 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Member Hankins:
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
2024-001 Linda Tilson.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-072 Moved by Vice Chair Abel,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2024-005 Michael Enciso.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-073 Moved by Chair Hooke,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Cases 2024-006 and 2024-023 Michael Catrett.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-074 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2024-007 Damon Gordon.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-075 Moved by Chair Hooke,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2024-010 Thomas Trebacz.
Voting for: Chair Hooke, Vice Chair Abel and Member Comfort.
Voting against: Member Hankins.
The motion passed.
Motion 25-076 Moved by Vice Chair Abel,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2024-012 James Rivard.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-077 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2024-015 An Chu.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-078 Moved by Chair Hooke,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2024-022 Melissa Lynch.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-079 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Chair Hooke:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2024-025 Patrick Depoe.
Voting for: Chair Hooke, Vice Chair Abel, Member Hankins.
Not voting: Member Comfort.
The motion passed.
Motion 25-080 Moved by Vice Chair Abel,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2024-027 Johnna Batiste.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-081 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Vice Chair Abel:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2024-046 Connie Williams
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-082 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Vice Chair Abel:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2024-054 Shar Yates.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-083 Moved by Vice Chair Abel,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause of $500 or less in EEB Case 2024-055 Bridget Mwendar.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-084 Moved by Chair Hooke,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2024-057 Matthew Ping.
Voting for: Chair Hooke, Member Comfort and Member Hankins.
Not voting: Vice Chair Abel.
The motion passed.
Motion 25-085 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Chair Hooke:
The Board found Reasonable
Cause over $500 in EEB Case 2025-004 Douglas Presta.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-086 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2025-012 Meghan Michelle Ellis.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-087 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Chair Hooke:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2025-018 Minh Vong
Voting for: Chair Hooke, Vice Chair Abel and Member Hankins.
Not voting: Member Comfort.
The motion passed.
Motion 25-088 Moved by Chair Hooke,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board
determined the complaint is unfounded and dismissed EEB Case 2025-042 Kurt Beckett.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-089 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Member Comfort:
The Board issued a Default
and Final in EEB Case 2023-093 Rachel Schaeffer, imposing a civil penalty of
$4,000.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-090 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Chair Hooke:
The Board issued a Default
and Final in EEB Case 2024-004 Micaela Martinez, imposing a civil penalty of $3,500.
Voting for: Chair Hooke, Vice Chair Abel and Member Comfort.
Voting against: Member Hankins.
The motion passed.
Motion 25-091 Moved by Vice Chair Abel,
seconded by Member Hankins:
The Board issued a Default
and Final in EEB Case 2024-017 Terrance Downs, imposing a civil penalty of
$5,000.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-092 Moved by Member Hankins,
seconded by Chair Hooke:
The Board issued a Default
and Final in EEB Case 2024-020 Nate Wilson, imposing a civil penalty of $5,000.
The motion passed unanimously.
Motion 25-093 Moved by Member Comfort,
seconded by Vice Chair Abel:
The Board issued a Default
and Final in EEB Case 2025-015 Jesse “Chip” Taylor, imposing a civil penalty of
$2,500.
Voting for: Chair Hooke, Vice Chair Abel and Member Comfort.
Voting against: Member Hankins.
The motion passed.
I. Miscellaneous Matters/Adjournment
There
being no miscellaneous matters, the meeting was adjourned at 11:47 a.m.
Approved by the Board 11/14/25