OKANOGAN — The state agency that oversees campaign issues says Okanogan County may have gone too far in its opposition to Initiative 1033, the measure on Tuesday’s ballot that would limit revenue increases to the rate of inflation and population growth.

The Public Disclosure Commission received a tip last week that the county e-mailed or faxed a letter on county equipment signed by several elected officials stating their opposition to the initiative and their reasons why, said the agency’s spokeswoman Lori Anderson.

Like officials in many counties and cities in Washington, Okanogan County commissioners passed a resolution earlier this month opposing the measure due to the financial impact it will have on the county.

County commissioners also neglected to specifically identify the initiative they planned to discuss on the public meeting agenda, as required by state campaign laws.

Commissioner Bud Hover said he’s taking full responsibility for the gaffe.

“I wasn’t aware of the RCW that prohibits elected officials from campaigning against initiatives,” he said.

Hover said that after commissioners adopted the resolution, he talked to other county officials who were interested in signing on to a letter opposing the measure.

“I wrote up a letter and circulated it because they wanted to do some editing. I just sent it by e-mail, not thinking,” he said. “What I was doing, in my mind, I was looking out for the interests of the county.”

Hover said he distributed the letter to news organizations, as a news release, but not to individuals or businesses.

Anderson said her agency frequently comes across similar misjudgments of campaign laws when it comes to statewide initiatives.

Currently, the PDC is looking into a complaint about how the city of Edmonds handled its discussion and resolution on I-1033, she said.

No complaint was filed against Okanogan County’s actions, she said, and the PDC is trying to decide how to respond.

“We have talked to Commissioner Hover and made him aware of the restrictions. That may be the end of it,” she said. “We haven’t decided what we’re going to do yet.”

Anderson said local governments can adopt resolutions regarding proposed initiatives, but certain steps must be taken.

“They have to have it on the agenda, if they’re going to consider such action, and they have to make sure everyone gets an equal chance to talk about the measure, so if the public wants to participate, they can. Then they can adopt a resolution,” she said.

In addition, governments can notify the media about their action if that is part of its usual practice after adopting other resolutions.

“It depends on what they normally do after they adopt a resolution,” she said.

Anderson said that the PDC attempts to educate local governments about the campaign laws through state county and city associations, instead of penalizing them for making mistakes. Penalties, however, for local governments could include a civil infraction and a fine.

“We try to make sure everyone’s aware of what their restrictions are, and when there are missteps, we do get quite a few complaints about it,” she said.

K.C. Mehaffey: 997-2512

mehaffey@wenatcheeworld.com