Responsible for ensuring compliance and enforcing Washington’s disclosure and campaign finance laws, the Public Disclosure Commission is one of those quiet but vital corners of state government.

Perhaps more versed in the law than win-at-all-costs electioneering, the PDC’s five commissioners ought to avoid what’s known in politics as an October surprise — a game-changer that scrambles the landscape in the closing days of campaign season.

Unfortunately, by advising the public on Oct. 22 that it would immediately suspend enforcing certain limits on large contributions, the PDC barreled straight into headlines such as: “Cash floodgates open after state lifts caps.”

In future, better situational awareness on the part of commissioners would be in order.

The issue first came before the PDC last year, when a political consultant complained that a rival’s campaign violated state law.…