7/8/2010 Editorials & Opinion | Rossi's race: que…

Monday, July 2, 2007 - Page updated at 04:34 PM

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Rossi's race: questions for the

quasi-candidate
He is not the first and he won't be the last, but un-candidate
Dino Rossi has created a nonprofit group that looks and feels
like a campaign organization.

One key distinction is the organization, Forward Washington

Foundation, can raise money and promote its president, Rossi,
and his ideas without adhering to contribution limits and
reporting the source of contributions. In open-books, open-
records Washington, Rossi should voluntarily release the
names of contributors and the contribution amounts.

Forward Washington calls itself "a nonprofit, nonpartisan

organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Candidate?
issues affecting the future of Washington state, its citizens and
its economy."

Rossi is traveling the state, collecting thoughts for an idea bank with hopes of presenting them to the 2008
Legislature. The latter does not pass the smirk test because Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are
unlikely to provide a political soapbox to present these ideas.

Rossi's group could well be legal, but falls in a gray area. The group is keeping Rossi's potential gubernatorial
candidacy alive through speeches and travel.

Rossi's fair defense is that he hasn't decided he is running for governor in 2008. That is completely up to him — the
when, the if.

But Forward Washington could become a precedent for future candidates and un-candidates. In the presidential
campaign, Democrat John Edwards faces similar questions about anti-poverty groups promoting his campaign.

The state Public Disclosure Commission is doing preliminary work before beginning an investigation on Rossi's group
and may not conduct a full investigation. It should decide whether such a group is legal under campaign laws or if
such activities violate the spirit of our laws, which is more likely.

Rossi is the founder of this group and its primary public speaker. He is careful not to ask for anyone's vote, not to tell
people to vote against Gov. Chris Gregoire. He is paid $75,000 by the foundation, which also covers his travel
expenses.

At the very least, Rossi has a Google problem. Type in "Dino Rossi" on Google, and the first reference, "Dino Rossi

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7/8/2010 Editorials & Opinion | Rossi's race: que…
& Forward Washington," sends Web travelers to Forward Washington. But the subhead says, "Rossi for Governor
Campaign Website: News and Information about Dino Rossi."

Voters have a right to wonder why Rossi invented a group and pretends it is not part of a campaign.

Other candidates with varying degrees of separation from boards and salaries do similar things, but that doesn't
make it right. There is a national trend toward use of nonprofit groups because of the almost nonstop fundraising
required.

"There does seem to be increased use of various tax-exempt entities ... by individuals who are thought to be
prospective candidates and in many cases do become candidates down the road," said Paul Ryan, attorney for the
Campaign Legal Center in Washington, D.C.

Even if it is not technically required, Rossi ought to announce contributors and the amounts donated.

If he becomes a candidate, voters will like him better for running a campaign and pre-campaign above reproach. Now
there's an idea for the idea bank: Remember that in the ways of campaign disclosure, Washington thinks of itself as
the Sunshine State.

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

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