Political watchdog agency not attentive, says report
Heather Knight
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Campaign consultants, politicians and political candidates don't have to worry about abiding by the city's ethics laws because virtually nothing will happen to them if they don't.
That's essentially the message from the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury, which Monday released a report calling the Ethics Commission "a sleeping watchdog."
Voters in 1993 created the commission to be an independent watchdog over the elections system, lobbying and government conduct. But the grand jury argues that the commission was flawed from the start because its members are appointed by the politicians whose behavior they oversee.
The report goes on to say the commission has abdicated its responsibilities to the commission staff, fails to fine wrongdoers or gives them a reduced fine if they're cooperative, doesn't enforce the city's sunshine laws about public disclosure and doesn't broadcast its meetings on television.
John St. Croix, the commission's director, said he will carefully review the report, but objected to its biting tone and the notion the commission is asleep at the switch.
"I'm confused and saddened they used the approach they did," he said. "You'd think there is a chaotic mess, and no such thing is true."
- Heather Knight
City money: The nine serious candidates for mayor in November are each expected to qualify for a whopping $900,000 in public finance funds, for a minimum total expenditure of $8.1 million.
John St. Croix, director of the Ethics Commission, told the Board of Supervisors' budget committee today that this is the current estimate - and it could go even higher.
The city is handing over public money to mayoral candidates for the first time. The system, designed to help level the financial playing field, was in place for the 2007 mayoral election but Mayor Gavin Newsom didn't agree to participate and none of his challengers raised enough to qualify.
This time around, all nine major candidates are participating.
So far, the city has handed out $1.67 million to the candidates. City Attorney Dennis Herrera is the big winner, getting $475,000 in city funds.
Former Supervisors Bevan Dufty and Michele-Alioto Pier are close behind at $471,000 and $332,000. State Sen. Leland Yee is the only other candidate to hit the six-figure mark so far, getting $246,000 in city funds.
Supervisor David Chiu, former Supervisor Tony Hall and venture capitalist Joanna Rees have each qualified for $50,000. Supervisor John Avalos, the newest entrant into the race, has contributions currently under review. Assessor Phil Ting hasn't raised enough to qualify for city money, according to the most recent commission report.
- Heather Knight
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/20/BAM51K0AV7.DTL#ixzz1QDIQSN1W
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