Kent Democrat Shukri Olow faces a false political advertising complaint with the state Public Disclosure Commission after she reportedly claimed an endorsement she didn’t have in her 47th Legislative District House Position No. 2 race.
Republican Carmen Goers, who lost in the August primary to Olow and Auburn Democrat Chris Stearns, filed the formal complaint after she was informed of a campaign flyer/mailer from Olow that listed an endorsement from Goers along with her photo. Goers said that is a false endorsement.
“I have not endorsed anyone for the state representative position,” Goers said in a press release. “I did not give her permission to use my image, and I did not know that my picture was going to be put on a mailer.”
Goers said she spoke with Olow and Stearns to inform them that she would not make an endorsement in the race.
“Perhaps there was a misunderstanding here,” Olow said in an Oct. 27 email to the Kent Reporter. “I spoke to Carmen and she and I had a good conversation and she was supportive of my candidacy. On all future communications, I’ve instructed my team to refrain from listing her endorsement on any materials.”
The flyer said that Olow was “endorsed by local Republican leaders” above photos of Goers and Suzette Cooke, a former Kent mayor and Republican state representative.
The official complaint on file with the state Public Disclosure Commission claims an alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.335 for political advertising that makes a false claim stating or implying the support or endorsement of any person or organization.
Goers said she has endorsed Kent Republican Bill Boyce in his 47th District Senate race against Kent Democrat Claudia Kauffman.
Ballots must be dropped in ballot boxes by 8 p.m. Nov. 8, general election day, or mailed and postmarked by Nov. 8.
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