PORT ANGELES — The state Attorney General’s Office will take no legal action against former mayor Karen Rogers after the state Auditor’s Office concluded that she allegedly violated state law.
Now, the state Public Disclosure Commission is awaiting more information, said PDC spokeswoman Lori Anderson, who added that the case is a low priority.
The state Auditor’s Office said in a report released April 14 that Rogers did not disclose her “remote interest” in city-contracted Capacity Provisioning Inc. — as required by state law — when she voted in 2007 on the company’s fiber optics contract with the city, which has paid the company about $5,000 a month.
Under state law, Rogers was required to disclose that CPI was paying her for “property management services” at the time and abstain from voting on the contract, the Auditor’s Office said.
The Attorney General’s Office took no action because the state Auditor’s Office did not request it, Attorney General’s Office spokeswoman Kristin Alexander said in an email to Peninsula Daily News.
Rogers also will not face action from city of Port Angeles, the state Auditor’s Office or the Clallam County Prosecutor’s Office, according to city, county and state officials interviewed this week.
No criminal action was alleged in the auditor’s report. She could have faced a $500 fine if the Attorney General’s Office had decided to pursue the matter in court and was successful, according to state law.
Rogers did not return calls requesting comment.
Bill Roberds, a co-founder of CPI, and Craig Johnson, company vice-president, did not return calls for comment Thursday.
The Auditor’s Office forwarded the report to the Attorney General’s Office and the state Public Disclosure Commission.
In the report, the state Auditor’s Office also said Rogers allegedly violated state law by not disclosing city payments to three organizations on Personal Financial Affairs Statements she is required to file with the Public Disclosure Commission.
Rogers was a member of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Clallam County Economic Development Council and Peninsula College Foundation, all of which received payments from the city, the Auditor’s Office said.
The state Public Disclosure Commission is waiting for more financial information on her involvement in the three community organizations to see if it reveals conflicts of interest, Anderson said.
The case is not a high priority, Anderson said.
“Considering the fact that she’s not in office any more, this kind of goes to the bottom of the pile as far as our priorities,” she said.
“Having her fix the report is important, regardless,” Anderson said.
“Once we find out what the public did not have a chance to see what they were entitled to see, then we will decide what to do next, and whether there will be enforcement.”
Anderson said the PDC staff would probably contact Rogers next week for information.
If the PDC staff files a complaint with the Public Disclosure Commission, the commission could dismiss the complaint or assess penalties of up to $4,200 for multiple violations, Anderson said.
The state Auditor’s Office report was prompted by a Jan. 5, 2009 anonymous complaint to the agency’s hotline.
Rogers served on the City Council from 2002 to 2009 and as the council-appointed mayor in 2006 and 2007.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
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