Working for Seattle, an independent expenditure campaign supporting Seattle mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan, has been charged by Seattle's top elections watchdog with filing late campaign reports.

Working for Seattle has raised $102,500 to back Mallahan. It filed reports on its organization and contributions with the state Public Disclosure Commission but neglected to do so with the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, as required by city law, said Wayne Barnett, the commission's executive director, today.

The full commission, a seven-member volunteer group, will hold a hearing at 2 p.m. Friday to determine if, in fact, the group did file late and if so, what penalties are appropriate.

Barnett contends that Kenny Stuart, treasurer for Working for Seattle, should've filed reports with the SEEC by Oct. 13. The group didn't contact the SEEC until Oct. 26, when it inquired about how to file reports, Barnett wrote in his Notice of Charges.

The group filed all of the outstanding reports with the SEEC on Oct. 27, according to the charges.

Stuart is also the president of Seattle Fire Fighters Union Local 27. The union is the largest contributor ($60,000) to Working for Seattle, which has already distributed one mailer, according to Stuart, a positive piece that praises Mallahan.

Barnett said the charges are important "because people have a right to know who's contributing" in the mayor's race.

When contacted for a response, Stuart said he was in a meeting and would call back.

Under city rules, such late filings are considered "excessively late" when they occur within 21 days of an election.