COMPLAINT 2005 No. 2

Bill Engelhardt – Respondent

Stipulation and Order

February, 2005

I. NATURE OF THE COMPLAINT

The Complaint alleges that legislative employee Bill Engelhardt violated the prohibition against the use of state resources for private benefit. The Complaint alleges that Mr. Engelhardt made personal use of a state-supplied envelope to mail a payment owed to his homeowner’s association, in violation of RCW 42.52.160. The Ethics Board has personal and subject-matter jurisdiction.

II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The Complaint was filed with the Ethics Board on February 1, 2005, and an investigation was conducted pursuant to RCW 42.52.420. The Respondent submitted a stipulation of facts on February 3, admitting that on January 15, 2005, he made an inappropriate personal use of a state business envelope.

III. ACCEPTANCE OF STIPULATION

The Board’s procedural rules provide that a complaint may be settled by stipulation. The Board accepts the Respondent’s stipulation of facts:

With regard to the complaint filed against me with the Legislative Ethics Board, let me begin by saying upfront and succinctly that on Jan. 15, 2005, I did make inappropriate use of a media services business envelope.

It appearing from the stipulation, the investigation and the conclusions of the Board that Mr. Engelhardt did use state property for his private use in violation of the Ethics Act and Legislative Ethics Board Rule 3, which provides in part that no legislative employee may make private use of any state property which is consumable, such as paper, envelopes or spare parts, even if the actual cost to the state is de minimis,

Now, Therefore,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that Respondent has violated RCW 42.52.160 and Board Rule 3, and shall be penalized by a letter of correction and this order is served on the Respondent as the letter of correction.

James A. Andersen – Pursuant to a determination by the Board, February 17, 2005

I, Bill Engelhardt, had had the option of reviewing this Stipulation and Order with legal counsel, or have actually reviewed it with legal counsel, fully understand its legal significance and have voluntarily signed it as a resolution of this matter.

Bill Engelhardt