PDC names Tacoma lawyer its new director

The state’s campaign watchdog agency has a new executive director.

Tacoma lawyer Evelyn Fielding Lopez will lead the Public Disclosure Commission, which oversees campaign-finance reporting and investigates complaints of election-law violations.

The commission announced its appointment of the former assistant attorney general Tuesday.

Katrina Asay of Milton, the chairwoman of the five-member commission, praised Lopez in a statement for her integrity and leadership.

“This is a pivotal time for the PDC,” Asay wrote. “The Legislature has given the commission the resources it needs to replace outdated filing software, develop a better website, and make other overdue upgrades. The commission and staff are committed to eliminating backlogs and resolving new complaints more quickly.”

The agency’s staff took a step toward wrapping up one of their longest-running investigations Monday when they alleged apparent violations of election law by initiative promoter Tim Eyman. An investigation begun in 2012 involving former Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon remains the agency’s oldest open case.

Lopez replaces Andrea McNamara Doyle, who resigned effective May 31. Lopez’s husband, Joe, briefly served on the Tacoma City Council last year when Councilman Anders Ibsen left for military boot camp.

This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 2:05 PM with the headline "PDC names Tacoma lawyer its new director."