UPDATED: State GOP asks for PDC investigation of Gregoire...but it was the wrong agency

Chris Mulick at the TCH has learned that Washington State Republican Party Chair Luke Esser has filed a complaint with the state Public Disclosure Commission alleging that Governor Chris Gregoire illegally used state funds for her re-election efforts.

Esser cites three payments to consulting firms made by the Governors office to aid a listening tour, work on education policy and imporve the intra-office communication structure.

Gregoire spokeman Aaron Toso told Mulick, "This is old news. Gov. Gregoire is interested in listening to the people of Washington state, it is unfortunate that Mr. Esser would rather have his governor ignoring citizens."

UPDATED: TNT's Niki Sullivan says that the complaint should have been sent elsewhere:

Problem is, the PDC isn't the right place to send it. It should have gone to the Executive Ethics department of the Attorney General Rob McKenna's office. (You know, Gregoire's old office.)

 

That's according to Doug Ellis with the PDC, who should know