Norm Rice Returns Campaign Donation

Seattle Mayor Norm Rice has returned $6,550 in contributions to his Democratic campaign for governor because they’re restricted under an obscure section of the state’s campaign finance law.

The contributions, initially accepted from 15 out-of-state political committees, were returned July 22, according to Rice’s campaign manager, Sue Tupper.

The contributions came from political committees benefiting other mayors, contacts made through Rice’s work with the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Included on the list are committees associated with Ed Rendell of Philadelphia, Michael White of Cleveland and Marc Morial of New Orleans.

State law requires that out-of-state political committees file a form with the Public Disclosure Commission within 10 days of contributing to a Washington campaign. The law also requires the committees to have at least 10 contributors from Washington state who have donated at least $10 each.

It is one of the more obscure sections of Initiative 134, the campaign reform measure state voters passed in 1992.