The state Public Disclosure Commission recently penalized the 2010 state Senate campaign of Federal Way School Board President Tony Moore for failing to disclose several in-kind contributions from the Washington State Republican Party.

The penalty was handed down in a decision released on Feb. 28. Moore’s campaign was fined $300. That fine, however, was knocked down to $150 on the condition that no future campaigns within the next four years violate state law, and that the $150 be paid within 30 days.

According to the Public Disclosure Commission’s report, Moore’s campaign failed to disclose in-kind contributions of five separate campaign mailings. The state Republicans paid for three campaign mailings for Moore that cost $20,904, which was not disclosed on a campaign finance report. The campaign also failed to disclose a “last minute contribution” report for two mailings that cost $14,743.

Moore said that his campaign erred because it thought that the Washington State Republican Party had sent duplicate receipts for the in-kind contributions. He said two letters came on the same day with identical dollar amounts attached, and that his campaign treasurer thought they were a mistake.

Moore said his campaign filed a late contributions report three days after receiving the receipts, but that was outside of the 48-hour reporting window required by law.

“There has to be rules,” he said. “We do our best to follow them.”

The Public Disclosure Commission took up the matter after receiving a complaint. The complainant is a Federal Way resident and former chair of the 30th District Democrats. In an interview, she asked not to be named in connection with the complaint, but said that she noticed the error after receiving a Moore mailing and reading campaign finance reports. She noted that this is the only time the PDC has acted on a complaint she has made.

Moore ran against State Sen. Tracey Eide (D-Federal Way) for the 30th District seat in 2010. Moore narrowly lost to Eide by about 1,600 votes.

Moore was also out-raised and out-spent by the Eide campaign. Eide raised around $250,000 and spent $246,000. Moore raised around $159,000 and spent nearly $155,000.

Moore’s will face an election this year if he is to remain on the school board. Moore was appointed to the school board in May 2008, and his term expires this year.