A flyer offering a free oil change to people who voice support for Puyallup City Council candidate John Hopkins doesn’t appear to violate state election law, a state election official says.
It’s illegal to offer a bribe, a reward or anything of value in exchange for a vote, but the door hanger doesn’t do that, said Katie Blinn, co-director of elections for the Office of the Secretary of State.
It offers those who say “Vote for John Hopkins” a free oil change at Ben’s Quality Lube & Tune in Puyallup. That could be interpreted as compensation for campaigning for Hopkins, but that’s legal, Blinn said. She gave example of campaigns hiring actors to make pitches in TV commercials.
The oil changes do count as in-kind campaign contributions, said Lori Anderson, spokeswoman for the state Public Disclosure Commission.
One side of the hanger has contact information for Hopkins’ campaign and lists endorsements from former Mayor Ken Martin, local businessman Tom Potter and Ben Jones, owner of the auto shop. The other side advertises specials at the shop and has the oil-change offer.
Five thousand were printed, and they’re being distributed in District 1, where Hopkins is seeking a council seat. The district covers the northern end of the city.
Jones said he at times offers two-for-one deals in which people who pay for an oil change get a coupon for a free one, and his side of the hanger is advertising the latest of those promotions.
He said Hopkins didn’t ask him to include the offer and that he hasn’t been requiring customers to mention Hopkins’ name to get a coupon.
Jones and Hopkins said they plan to divvy up the costs of the hanger, including printing and distribution, once they’re finalized.
Hopkins, 63, a semi-retired property manager, faces two others in the Aug. 16 primary. He has collected $9,000 for his campaign, according to the PDC, but the money is out of his own pocket, he said. He said he has avoided taking contributions because he wants people to know his council votes won’t be influenced by special interests.
When it comes to the oil changes, “I’ll report it exactly as (the PDC) wants me to report it,” he said.
Hopkins’ opponents in the primary are Tom Smillie, 59, who’s retired from BNSF Railway, and Merv Swanson, 71, a retired boilermaker.
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