Complaint filed against Spokane Valley candidate

A complaint has been filed with the Washington state Public Disclosure Commission against Spokane Valley City Council candidate Marilyn Cline, alleging that she has been running a home-based business without reporting her income on required candidate filings.

Cline has previously denied running a hairdressing business out of her home, saying she only cut the hair of family members and was not paid.

Dusty Link, a neighbor of Cline’s, sent in the complaint on Oct. 8. “Marilyn Cline has been doing hair for years out of her home,” Link wrote. “She has told her neighbors it is a hobby and she does not have to claim this income.”

Cline said Tuesday she has been in contact with the PDC and that she was assured she was in compliance, but said she doesn’t remember who she spoke with.

PDC spokeswoman Lori Anderson said her organization does not release information about investigations until the process is complete. “We haven’t taken any action on that file,” she said.

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said last week that Cline has been paid to cut his wife’s hair on and off for years.

And Karen Towey, wife of Spokane Valley Mayor Tom Towey, said she paid Cline to cut her hair once about a year ago. Towey said the haircut was done in Cline’s basement, where she has a wash basin, hair dryer and other equipment. “It’s a regular shop,” Towey said.

Cline denies cutting hair for money, but said sometimes people leave her gifts of cash or checks after she cuts their hair. “That has happened,” she said. “I cut hair.”

State records show that Cline has a current cosmetology operator license that allows her to cut hair. She does not have the business license or the salon/shop license that are both required to operate a hairdressing business.

Link said she believes Cline should either report the income from her business or provide proof that she has not earned more than $2,000 cutting hair in the past 12 months. According to the financial affairs form, a candidate must report income from a source if it exceeds $2,000 in a year.

Link also said she doesn’t believe that someone should be elected to manage her tax dollars “when they themselves don’t even pay taxes.”