Former Washington State Senator Karen Fraser settled a lawsuit filed against her in Thurston Superior Court earlier this week for $27,472.23 which began with a variety of campaign finance violations she committed during her failed 2016 campaign for Washington State Lieutenant Governor.  This lawsuit (State of Washington ex. rel. Glen Morgan vs. Karen Fraser – Thurston Superior Court #17-2-06761-34) was initiated by a Public Disclosure Commission complaint filed by this author against Fraser on July 17, 2017 (linked here).  Campaign finance violations have been more widely exposed this year than in years past, but this case has some interesting elements (settlement linked here):

  • The largest portion of this settlement was the requirement that she refund $16,272.23 back to her political committee which she had illegally taken for personal use after losing the race.  This is the largest example of this type of illegal personal reimbursement exposed by this author yet.
  • A fine of $6,000 to the State of Washington was also included.  $1,000 is payable to the state immediately, and $5,000 is deferred for two years if Fraser can refrain from continuing to violate the state’s campaign finance laws during this time.
  • Additionally $5,200 in attorney fees and costs were paid to the lawyer who brought the suit on behalf of the State of Washington (and this author).
Karen Fraser in happier times speaking on the Senate floor

The original complaint details many specific examples of campaign finance violations including the failure to report debt, late reporting of expenditures and contributions, and a failure to properly detail expenditures.  However, the most notable element of this complaint was the illegal transfer of campaign funds to her personal account.  This refund is substantially larger than a similar refund, which Democrat Speaker of the House Frank Chopp was forced to return to his campaign last year ($1200), which was also uncovered in a complaint filed by this author (linked here) and a lawsuit filed by the Washington State Attorney General (linked here).

You know you have reached the pinnacle of political power when you can have a trail like this named after you.

Karen Fraser has a long and distinguished political career in government, first as Council member and Mayor of the City of Lacey, then for 8 years as Thurston County Commissioner, then 4 years as State Legislator (22nd LD, Olympia), and finally, most impressively for 24 years as State Senator from the same district.  She has been very influential in Democratic Party politics for several decades and her blessing is still considered crucial for a successful political future in the Olympia / Thurston County Democratic Party scene.  She also works at Evergreen State College and even had a trail in Olympia named after her last year.

Despite this experience and impressive resume, her failure to follow Washington State’s campaign finance laws during her failed attempt to win her race for Lieutenant Governor in 2016 was surprising to many.  The 2016 campaign for Lieutenant Governor was a very crowded race, and although Fraser had a well-financed campaign, she was bounced out of the race during the primary by the eventual winner Democrat Cyrus Habib and Republican Marty McClendon.  Fraser finished in third place with 15.66% of the vote.

Fraser joins many other Thurston County based Democrats who have recently run afoul of Washington State’s campaign finance laws:

  • Senator Sam Hunt (22nd LD, Olympia) who won Fraser’s seat after she lost her Lt.
    Sam Hunt broke the law as well when he ran to fill Fraser’s seat in the state Senate

    Governor race, was sued by the AG last year and settled that lawsuit based on a few complaints filed by this author. (see here)

  • The Thurston County Democrats have been in Superior Court for 14 months now in a lawsuit filed by the AG originally based on a variety of PDC complaints filed by this author.
  • Olympia City Councilman and failed Thurston County Commissioner candidate Jim Cooper is also still in court with the AG based on a handful of complaints filed by this author.  He was also recently gone to court in a separate matter (Washington State ex rel Glen Morgan vs. Jim Cooper – #18-2-00523-34) for additional violations of the campaign finance laws during his 2017 successful reelection to the Olympia City Council.
  • Failed Thurston County Commissioner Kelsey Hulse was also sued by the AG based on a complaint filed by this author.  This lawsuit was settled last year.

    JZ Knight claims to Channel Ramtha – a 35,000 year old warrior spirit
  • Jay Manning, a Thurston County resident and former Director of the Department of Ecology was also sued by the AG and settled his lawsuit last year for failing to file personal financial disclosure documents (based on a complaint initiated by this author)
  • JZ Knight’s cult-funded PAC, managed by Jay Manning and subsidized by the Washington State Democratic Party also settled a lawsuit stemming from a variety of violations of the state’s campaign finance laws last year (also initiated by complaints filed by this author).

Fraser is far from alone in her violation of Washington State’s campaign finance laws.  However, it is hoped that this experience will both serve as a lesson to others and help her get back on the transparent and honest path the next time she decides to run for public office.

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OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.”  IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.  IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT.  IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.”  UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED

Additional Background articles and documents:

State of Washington ex. rel Glen Morgan vs. Karen Fraser – Thurston County Superior Court #17-2-06761-34


Dem PACs dissolve after campaign finance complaint
Karen Fraser – Political Biography

The Columbian – January 23, 2018 – “Local Democratic PAC plans to disband after complaints”

The Trials and Tribulations of Tina Podlodowski – Helping Democrats lose by less

Letter from 43rd Leg District Democrats claiming they have now dissolved

The Scorched wasteland of Washington State’s campaign finance laws

AG Attorney complains suing Democrat lawbreakers “unfair”, quits to sue Republicans

Seattle Times – August 6, 2017 – “State senator fined for violating campaign disclosure law”

The Olympian – August 4, 2017 – Hunt agrees to fine in campaign finance disclosure case 

SeattleMet – January 14, 2017 – Democrats dislike Democrats – Dwight Pelz attacks Tina Podlodowski and says she is not a good person to run the Washington State Democratic Party