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November 26, 2011 in Washington Voices
Cline won’t be investigated by campaign finance panel
The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission has decided not to investigate a complaint filed against Spokane Valley City Council candidate Marilyn Cline alleging that she was running a hairdressing business in her basement without disclosing the income as required on her candidate financial statement.
Cline holds a current license as a cosmetology operator, which allows her to cut hair, but she does not have a business license or the salon/shop license that are both required to operate a hairdressing business.
PDC spokeswoman Lori Anderson said candidates are required to report income received from a sole proprietorship, but not money received from individuals. “We couldn’t find that she had ever gotten a business license,” she said. “In our opinion, it’s not a structured sole proprietorship.”
If Cline did have a business license she would be required to report her income from cutting hair on the financial forms, Anderson said. Since she does not have one, her income is considered to be received from individuals.
Cline, who did not return a call seeking comment, has previously denied running a business in her basement. She said that sometimes people leave her gifts of cash or checks after she cuts their hair. “I cut hair,” she said.
Karen Towey, wife of Spokane Valley Mayor Tom Towey, said previously that Cline had cut her hair and described Cline’s basement. “It’s a regular shop,” Karen Towey said.
Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich also said previously that his wife has had her hair cut by Cline for years.
Anderson said it is not up to the PDC to determine if Cline should have a business license. “That’s not our call to make,” she said. That determination would be up to the Department of Revenue, but Anderson said the PDC has no plans to notify that department about the complaint against Cline.
Remembering heroes 
kathrynmary on November 29 at 9:02 a.m.
Nina,
When will you stop your obvious hatred for Marilyn Cline? Your vendetta again Marilyn Cline was more than obvious during this campaign. And NOW you chose to report on the NO INVESTIGATION OF CLINE? You had the information long before the election. Maybe a blessing that the best quallified candidate with years of service to our Spokane Valley won’t have to put up with your non-stop attacks on a wonderful person. Shame on you and the S/R to allow all this to happen.
Sam_Smith on November 30 at 8:34 a.m.
I find it interesting that you think that reporting news is an attack. People who run for public office open themselves up for the highest kind of scrutiny regardless of the office they run for. Did you think that Ms. Cline was above reproach? No one is. Ms. Culver is simply reporting the news as she does and has about any other subject she hears about. She performs a service to the community. I am not trying to say Ms. Cline is a good person or a bad person, she just happens to be someone who is on the edge and in the middle of a political campaign and the community needs to know the information in order to make an informed decision. If the information had been about Mr. Wick I am believe she would have reported the same. Just as she reported the complaint, she as also reported that there will be no investigation, both ends of the story, closes the loop. Ms. Cline put herself in this position, not Ms. Culver.