Records request shows campaign materials on county computer

EPHRATA - Jacob Taylor, Grant County chief accountant and county auditor candidate, said he has erased political advertisements and other campaign-related material from his county-owned computer after commissioners found he was using his work computer for campaign purposes.

Taylor said he did not think he was doing anything wrong when he used his county-owned computer to work on his political campaign during his lunch break.

"I certainly would not have done that," Grant County Commission Chairwoman Carolann Swartz said. She said she would avoid using her county-owned computer for political campaigning "like the plague."

"It just gives the public the perception that a campaign is being funded by the taxpayers and that is certainly not what (a candidate) wants," she said.

Taylor said this week his boss, current county auditor Dave Firebaugh, told him to remove the personal material from his computer. That is after a public records request showed Taylor had a candidate position statement, head shots for political ads, orders for political signs and advertisements and public disclosure committee paperwork detailing his campaign contributions and expenses on his computer. He also had paperwork from his personal accounting business on his county-owned computer.

Firebaugh told the Columbia Basin Herald he allowed Taylor to use his computer during his lunchbreak to work on his campaign. He said he does not think Taylor violated any county rules and "it is questionable" as to whether he violated any state campaign rules.

Firebaugh said he still endorses Taylor to fill his shoes, not Taylor's opponent Michele Jaderlund who also works in the county's accounting office.

Grant County's computer use policy for employees, adopted in 2007 addressed the issue stating, "The electronic communication facilities are not to be used for the transmission of commercial or personal advertisements, solicitations, promotions, destructive programs, political material."

Taylor said he interpreted the rule to mean he should not use the county's e-mail to aid his political campaign, which he did not do.

He pointed to another county computer use rule stating, "Brief and proper use (at discretion) of computer equipment and software is permitted when personal use does not interfere with expected work performance."

Grant County's Information Systems Director Gary Baker said the rule was meant to allow employees to check their bank account balance or personal e-mail, not store or make political advertisements.

Washington Public Disclosure Committee spokesperson Laurie Anderson said if Taylor used his county-owned computer at any time for any political campaigning it is a violation of state campaigning rules and he could be subject to a fine up to $10,000.

She pointed to a state law explaining all public employees must refrain from using any publicly-owned facilities to assist in a campaign.

"The restriction actually applies to all county resources. Anything that tax dollars are used to purchase should not be used to promote or oppose a political candidate," including storing political advertisements on a government-owned computer, she said.

In order for the PDC to make a finding against or to fine Taylor, a complaint must be filed and as of Tuesday, no such complaint has been filed, she said.

She said it was "pretty uncommon" for a political candidate to violate those rules because local officials are usually adamant about enforcing the restrictions.

Michele Jaderlund, who works in the county's accounting office and is also running for Grant County auditor, said she uses her smartphone or personal computer to aid in political campaigns, not her work computer.

"I would not do that because it would be a violation of the county's computer usage policy and code of ethics," she said.

She declined to comment further, saying she wanted to remain out of any mention of campaign violations that did not involve her.

Firebaugh said he thought the revelation of documents on Taylor's county-owned computer was "more of a campaign smear," than a relevant finding. He said political races bring out the worst in people, and that is why he is not seeking re-election.