Legislative Ethics Board Complaint Opinions
Topic
Use of public resources for private benefit
Respondent
Rep. Sharon Shewmake
Question/Complaint
LEB Opinion Question/Complaint
Did Respondent violate RCW 42.52.160 by blocking the Complainant from her personal Facebook page on which she had included an announcement about her upcoming town hall meeting?
Summary
LEB Opinion Summary
No. A personal Facebook page is not a public resource under a legislator's "official control or direction" as it is not an account that was established because a person is a member of the legislature. The town hall meeting announcement was also available on the Respondent's legislative and campaign websites, to both of which the Complainant had access.
Document
LEB Complaint Opinion Document