Knudsen v. WASH. STATE EXECUTIVE ETHICS BD.

235 P.3d 835
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedJuly 13, 2010
Docket26680-0-III
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 235 P.3d 835 (Knudsen v. WASH. STATE EXECUTIVE ETHICS BD.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Knudsen v. WASH. STATE EXECUTIVE ETHICS BD., 235 P.3d 835 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).

Opinion

235 P.3d 835 (2010)

Teresa KNUDSEN, an individual, Appellant,
v.
WASHINGTON STATE EXECUTIVE ETHICS BOARD, an agency of the State of Washington, Respondent.

No. 26680-0-III.

Court of Appeals of Washington, Division 3.

July 13, 2010.

*837 Teresa Knudsen (Appearing Pro Se), Spokane, WA, for Appellant.

Linda Marie Moran, Attorney at Law, University Place, WA, M.B. Newberry, Office of the Atty. General, Government Compliance and Enforcement, Olympia, WA, for Respondent.

KULIK, C.J.

¶ 1 Teresa Knudsen, a college teacher, sent an e-mail from a Spokane Community College (SCC) computer encouraging recipients to urge state legislators to approve two bills that would provide tenure-like protections for part-time college teachers. After a hearing, the Washington State Executive Ethics Board (Board) concluded that Ms. Knudsen violated RCW 42.52.160(1), WAC 292-110-010, and RCW 42.17.190 by her use of state resources for lobbying. On appeal to this court, Ms. Knudsen contends her activities did not violate the prohibitions against using state resources for private benefit, or against lobbying, and the Board's action was unconstitutional. From our de novo review of the Board's order, we conclude that the Board properly determined that Ms. Knudsen violated the statutes prohibiting the use of state resources for private gain and lobbying. And we decline to consider Ms. Knudsen's assertion of constitutional claims because she fails to provide any citation of authority to support them. We affirm the Board's order.

FACTS

¶ 2 The Board entered findings of fact and conclusions of law. We review the Board's record and its findings of fact and conclusions of law. Valentine v. Dep't of Licensing, 77 Wash.App. 838, 843-44, 894 P.2d 1352 (1995). Here, Ms. Knudsen challenges the decision of the superior court, but has not challenged the findings of the Board. Specifically, she has failed to challenge the Board's findings in her assignments of error. Unchallenged findings are verities on appeal. Cowiche Canyon Conservancy v. Bosley, 118 Wash.2d 801, 808, 828 P.2d 549 (1992). The following facts are based primarily on the Board's findings of fact.

¶ 3 On February 25, 2005, Ms. Knudsen, a college teacher, sent an e-mail from a SCC computer encouraging recipients to urge state legislators to approve two bills that would provide tenure-like protections for part-time college teachers. At the time, Ms. Knudsen was a state employee, employed as an adjunct academic adviser at SCC, teaching courses in the English Department. Ms. Knudsen taught English courses until 2005 when her employment ended.

¶ 4 Ms. Knudsen admitted that she sent an e-mail from her SCC computer on February 25, 2005, to "`SCC Faculty,'" "`SFCC Faculty,'" and "`IEL—Corrections Ed.'" Administrative Record (AR) at 194. This e-mail concerned legislation pending before the Washington legislature regarding part-time public employees. Ms. Knudsen admitted that several SCC faculty responded to the e-mail, either in person or by e-mail.

¶ 5 In its findings, the Board quotes this e-mail, in part:

Among other statements, the e-mail stated:

• "You can view the bill at the following website ..."
*838 • "Remember to contact your legislators on personal e-mail ..." (Legislators email addresses were then listed.)
• "In the e-mail, tell any of your personal problems with lack of job security. You can mention as well that this bill has no cost associated with it. Be sure to mention the bill numbers."
• "Be sure to list your title and either where you live or where you teach. You might also include your phone..."
• "Here is a sample letter. If you like, please modify it to fit your personal experience ..."

AR at 195.

¶ 6 SCC had an "EMPLOYEE ACCEPTABLE USE GUIDELINES FOR CCS TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES," effective November 24, 1998. AR at 22. The policy allows for occasional and limited personal use of SCC resources when there is no cost to the district, the use does not interfere with the employee's official duties, and the use otherwise complies with all applicable laws and regulations. The policy specifically states that the technology resources shall not be used for commercial, illegal, or political purposes.

¶ 7 Ms. Knudsen did not obtain prior approval before sending the February 25, 2005 e-mail. SCC sent Ms. Knudsen an e-mail reminding her that the de minimis use exception did not apply to political or lobbying activities unrelated to the employee's official duties. The administration informed Ms. Knudsen that the e-mail she sent constituted lobbying that was unrelated to her official duties. The administration asked Ms. Knudsen whether she agreed. She did not. However, Ms. Knudsen presented no evidence that lobbying the legislature was within the scope of her official duties as an English teacher at SCC.

¶ 8 The Board found reasonable cause to believe Ms. Knudsen had violated the ethics in public service act, chapter 42.52 RCW, and scheduled a hearing. During this hearing, Ms. Knudsen admitted that on February 25, 2005, she used a state computer, or state-provided computer, or state-provided Internet access at SCC to send an e-mail message regarding community college faculty salaries and retirement plan funding. She sent the e-mail to "SCC Faculty; SFCC Faculty; IEL—Corrections Ed" so that it would go to all faculty members who had e-mail at the community colleges in Spokane. AR at 18. Ms. Knudsen asked recipients to use their personal, non-state mail to contact legislators about two bills that would provide tenure-like protections for part-time teachers. She included a sample letter that recipients could tailor to their needs.

¶ 9 At the hearing before the Board on January 12, 2007, Ms. Knudsen argued that the e-mail constituted de minimis use under WAC 292-110-010, and that she did not commit a knowing violation of RCW 42.52.160(1). She also asserted that she sent the e-mail on behalf of her union. But Ms. Knudsen also stated, "[the union] had not told the faculty at all about the legislation mentioned in my e-mail and [was] not lobbying the state legislature regarding the legislation mentioned in my e-mail." AR at 67.

¶ 10 The Board concluded that a preponderance of evidence proved that Ms. Knudsen violated RCW 42.52.160(1) and WAC 292-110-010 in the preparation and distribution of the February 25, 2005 e-mail from her SCC computer. The Board also concluded that the e-mail constituted unauthorized lobbying under RCW 42.17.190 and was intended for the private benefit or gain of Ms. Knudsen or others. The Board determined that chapter 42.52 RCW and WAC 292-110-010 did not support Ms. Knudsen's position, and that her other arguments did not sanction her activity.

¶ 11 Ms. Knudsen appealed to the superior court, which affirmed the Board's decision.

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235 P.3d 835, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/knudsen-v-wash-state-executive-ethics-bd-washctapp-2010.