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Monday, Jan 26, 2026
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Washington Lawmaker Faces Ethics Complaint Over $30,000 Campaign Fund Donation
Local Democrats allege Representative Tarra Simmons improperly directed surplus campaign funds to an out-of-state nonprofit tied to personal contacts
A formal ethics complaint has been filed against Washington State Representative Tarra Simmons alleging that she misused thirty thousand dollars in campaign funds by directing the money to an out-of-state nonprofit with which she has personal ties.
The complaint was submitted on January twelfth to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission by Val Torrens, chair of the 23rd Legislative District Democrats in Kitsap County, which encompasses Simmons’ district west of Seattle.
It is one of three pending complaints against the Democratic lawmaker, two of which focus on her use of surplus campaign funds.
Critics say the donations raise questions about compliance with state rules governing the use of unspent campaign contributions.
The complaint highlights two fifteen-thousand-dollar disbursements made in July and August of last year from Simmons’ surplus campaign fund to Better Minds Better Communities, a Nevada-based nonprofit that has not maintained an active website or filed required annual tax reports since 2021. The organization was registered in 2020 to Jovan Jackson, a member of the Nevada Legislature, and the mailing address disclosed by Simmons for the group matches a trust fund address associated with Jackson’s family.
Simmons’ public social media posts showing her with Jackson during trips to Las Vegas in mid-2025 are cited in the complaint as part of the context for concerns about how and why the organization was selected as a recipient.
State law permits candidates to use unspent campaign funds after an election for certain restricted purposes including donations to charitable organizations, but requires compliance with specific rules designed to prevent personal benefit.
The complaint’s authors argue that the size, destination, and lack of public record for the Nevada nonprofit warrant a review of whether the spending adhered to these standards.
Simmons has maintained that she followed all applicable laws and processes for campaign fund expenditures, noting that all expenses are available for public review and were handled with the assistance of a professional treasurer.
She called the ethics complaints politically motivated and emphasized her legislative work representing her district.
In addition to the surplus fund complaint, another pending review before the Legislature’s ethics board involves a ten-thousand-dollar donation that a local criminal justice research nonprofit received and later returned.
A third complaint, also filed by Torrens, alleges that Simmons used her official position to intimidate a potential intra-party challenger.
House Speaker Laurie Jinkins has said she will respect the process of the Legislative Ethics Board as it evaluates the matters.
The Public Disclosure Commission now has up to ninety days to determine whether to initiate a full investigation or pursue a commission hearing.
The complaint was submitted on January twelfth to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission by Val Torrens, chair of the 23rd Legislative District Democrats in Kitsap County, which encompasses Simmons’ district west of Seattle.
It is one of three pending complaints against the Democratic lawmaker, two of which focus on her use of surplus campaign funds.
Critics say the donations raise questions about compliance with state rules governing the use of unspent campaign contributions.
The complaint highlights two fifteen-thousand-dollar disbursements made in July and August of last year from Simmons’ surplus campaign fund to Better Minds Better Communities, a Nevada-based nonprofit that has not maintained an active website or filed required annual tax reports since 2021. The organization was registered in 2020 to Jovan Jackson, a member of the Nevada Legislature, and the mailing address disclosed by Simmons for the group matches a trust fund address associated with Jackson’s family.
Simmons’ public social media posts showing her with Jackson during trips to Las Vegas in mid-2025 are cited in the complaint as part of the context for concerns about how and why the organization was selected as a recipient.
State law permits candidates to use unspent campaign funds after an election for certain restricted purposes including donations to charitable organizations, but requires compliance with specific rules designed to prevent personal benefit.
The complaint’s authors argue that the size, destination, and lack of public record for the Nevada nonprofit warrant a review of whether the spending adhered to these standards.
Simmons has maintained that she followed all applicable laws and processes for campaign fund expenditures, noting that all expenses are available for public review and were handled with the assistance of a professional treasurer.
She called the ethics complaints politically motivated and emphasized her legislative work representing her district.
In addition to the surplus fund complaint, another pending review before the Legislature’s ethics board involves a ten-thousand-dollar donation that a local criminal justice research nonprofit received and later returned.
A third complaint, also filed by Torrens, alleges that Simmons used her official position to intimidate a potential intra-party challenger.
House Speaker Laurie Jinkins has said she will respect the process of the Legislative Ethics Board as it evaluates the matters.
The Public Disclosure Commission now has up to ninety days to determine whether to initiate a full investigation or pursue a commission hearing.
