PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
John St. Croix
(415) 252-3100
For release:
December 11, 2007
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN AT DECEMBER 10, 2007 MEETING
At its meeting on December 10, 2007, the San Francisco Ethics Commission took the following actions:
- Considered requests for waivers from the one-year post-employment restriction of Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code section 3.234(a)(1)(D) for two individuals, and took the following actions. By a vote of 3-2, granted the request for waiver from Steve Kawa, former Chief of Staff for Mayor Newsom, so that he may contact the Mayor’s Office regarding the establishment of internship opportunities for students at San Francisco State University. By a vote of 4-1, denied the request for waiver from Peter Fatooh, former member of the Assessment Appeals Board #1, who had sought a waiver so that he may represent residential property owners before the Assessment Appeals Board #2.
- Announced its determination that there is probable cause that Respondent Tony Hall committed violations of the Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance and Political Reform Act, as follows: (1) misused campaign funds to repay a $12,000 personal loan, in violation of California Government Code sections 89510 and 89512 and San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code (“CFRO”) sections 1.106 and 1.122; (2) misreported repayment of a $12,000 personal loan as campaign staff salary, in violation of Government Code section 84211 and CFRO sections 1.106 and 1.170(f); (3) misused campaign funds for improper automobile expenses in violation of Government Code section 89516(d) and CFRO sections 1.106 and 1.122; (4) misused campaign funds for meal expenditures after his August 5, 2004 withdrawal from the 2004 race to be re-elected as a member of the Board of Supervisors, in violation of CFRO section 1.122(b)(ii); (5) misused campaign funds for expenditures that were not reasonably related to a legislative, governmental or political purpose, in violation of Government Code sections 89510 and 89512 and CFRO sections 1.106 and 1.122; and (6) failed to report a $12,000 personal loan on his 2004 and 2005 Statements of Economic Interests. Pursuant to Ethics Enforcement Regulation § VIII(B)(2), each Commissioner who participated in a decision to find probable cause certified on the record that he or she personally heard or read the testimony, reviewed the evidence, or otherwise reviewed the entire record of the proceedings. Please note: The respondent is presumed to be innocent unless and until such time that the Ethics Commission holds a subsequent hearing on the merits and determines that the Respondent committed the alleged violations. (Ethics Enforcement Regulations § VIII(B)(5).)
The Commission’s next regular meeting will be held on Monday, January 14, 2008, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 408 City Hall.
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The Ethics Commission, established in November 1993, serves the public, City employees and officials and candidates for public office through education and enforcement of ethics laws. Its duties include: filing and auditing of campaign finance disclosure statements, lobbyist and campaign consultant registration and regulation, administration of the public financing program, whistleblower program, conflict of interest reporting, investigations and enforcement, education and training, advice giving and statistical reporting.
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