The Washington Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) this month dismissed complaints against Peter Kwon, a long-serving SeaTac City Councilmember who ran for the King County Council in 2025, concluding that while reporting and advertising issues occurred, formal enforcement action was not warranted.

The case stemmed from complaints filed in September, 2025 by Michael Fertakis and Courtney Normand, alleging violations of state campaign finance and political advertising laws during Kwon’s unsuccessful 2025 campaign for King County Council District 5. Fertakis is a partner at the campaign consulting firm working for Kwon’s opponent, Steffanie Fain, who won that election by 4,517 votes/10.6 percent.

According to the PDC, Kwon appeared to violate provisions of the Fair Campaign Practices Act related to timely and accurate reporting of expenditures and sponsor identification on political advertising. However, the commission determined that Kwon was in substantial compliance with the law and dismissed the matter with a reminder.

The allegations received public attention following an Oct. 14, 2025 press release from Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, which announced it had filed a complaint accusing Kwon of falsely claiming the organization’s endorsement in campaign materials.

The complaint alleged that Kwon continued to distribute political advertising that included Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates’ endorsement (at the bottom of the mailer) after it had been rescinded. Fain said the organization withdrew its support after determining that Kwon had misrepresented his positions.

“The period between when Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates made their endorsement on September 5, 2025, and when it was officially rescinded on September 18, 2025, was time in which the endorsement was allowed to be used by the committee,” the PDC said in its decision.

In its findings, PDC staff determined that Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates endorsed Kwon on Sept. 5, 2025, but later rescinded that endorsement on Sept. 18, 2025. The commission found that Kwon’s campaign ordered advertising materials on the same day the endorsement was issued and began distributing them on Sept. 16.

After the endorsement was withdrawn, the campaign covered the endorsement on remaining materials with a sticker and continued distribution. The campaign estimated that approximately 3,500 pieces were distributed before the endorsement was rescinded and about 2,000 afterward with the sticker applied.

PDC staff concluded there was no evidence that Kwon acted with reckless disregard for the truth or that the conduct met the legal threshold for libel or defamation. The commission also found no evidence of harm required to sustain that allegation.

Campaign finance reports show a significant spending gap between the two candidates during the 2025 race. Fain reported $267,247.89 in campaign expenditures, while Kwon reported $145,958.81, according to PDC filings.

The PDC did identify reporting issues involving repurposed yard signs from a previous campaign, which were disclosed as an in-kind contribution only after a complaint was filed. The amended report listed the fair market value at $720. The commission also noted a sponsor identification formatting issue on the signs and an amended contribution report correcting missing donor information.

Kwon had no prior enforcement history with the PDC during the 2025 election cycle.

The commission closed the case under state rules allowing dismissal when a respondent is in substantial compliance and formal enforcement is not in the public interest. PDC staff reminded Kwon of the importance of timely and accurate reporting and compliance with political advertising formatting requirements.

“PDC staff have determined there is no evidence indicating the Respondent acted with reckless disregard for the truth when continuing to distribute the POLAD (Political Advertising) after the endorsement was rescinded.”

The case was formally closed with a reminder on Jan. 1, 2026.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We reached out to Kwon for comment, and will update this post when and if he responds.