Contact:
John St. Croix
(415) 252-3100
For release: October 15, 2009
San Francisco Ethics Commission Releases Third Quarter 2009 Report on Campaign Consultant Activity
Pursuant to San Francisco’s Regulation of Campaign Consultants Ordinance, the San Francisco Ethics Commission has released its summary report of campaign consultant activity for the third quarter of 2009.
The summary report includes information disclosed in the third quarter activity reports, which were due on September 15, 2009, and covered the filing period beginning June 1, 2009 and ending August 31, 2009. Twenty-five campaign consultants filed with the Ethics Commission in the third quarter of 2009.
Payments to Campaign Consultants. For the third quarter of 2009, all active campaign consultants reported receiving $562,206 in payments from their clients. Of this amount, Stearns Consulting reported receiving the highest total payments, $118,259.
Political Contributions Made by Campaign Consultants. Political contributions by registered campaign consultants during the third quarter totaled $2,250. Whitehurst Campaigns, Inc reported contributing, as an intermediary, the highest amount, $1,000.
The Commission reported that the level of campaign consultant activity has fluctuated since the first filing in June 1998 (the second quarter of 1998). Commission staff compiled data pertaining to campaign consultant activity since the implementation of the Ordinance as follows:
| Quarter | Number of Consultants | Total Payments Promised | Total Payments Received | Total Contributions Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Quarter 2002 | 22 | $242,752 | $259,357 | $1,100 |
| Second Quarter 2002 | 23 | $121,413 | $311,663 | $2,100 |
| Third Quarter 2002 | 40 | $320, 373 | $345,325 | $2,200 |
| Fourth Quarter 2002 | 50 | $3,002,128 | $3,243,997 | $8,003 |
| First Quarter 2003 | 42 | $368,102 | $331,328 | $3,850 |
| Second Quarter 2003 | 51 | $486,555 | $530,434 | $3,250 |
| Third Quarter 2003 | 64 | $618,346 | $749,332 | $2,805 |
| Fourth Quarter 2003 | 64 | $1,112,506 | $1,367,183 | $10,125 |
| First Quarter 2004 | 36 | $352,837 | $243,578 | $1,600 |
| Second Quarter 2004 | 29 | $180,947 | $136,950 | $1,650 |
| Third Quarter 2004 | 45 | $461,739 | $405,991 | $11,050 |
| Fourth Quarter 2004 | 55 | $620,070 | $943,214 | $5,295 |
| First Quarter 2005 | 17 | $78,578 | $29,762 | $1,750 |
| Second Quarter 2005 | 17 | $87,399 | $93,085 | $250 |
| Third Quarter 2005 | 20 | $160,430 | $102,377 | $950 |
| Fourth Quarter 2005 | 23 | $256,254 | $283,731 | $1,150 |
| First Quarter 2006 | 9 | $68,911 | $72,654 | $1,900 |
| Second Quarter 2006 | 13 | $400,328 | $385,303 | $1,000 |
| Third Quarter 2006 | 18 | $279,270 | $310,077 | $4,200 |
| Fourth Quarter 2006 | 21 | $842,765 | $617,275 | $12,700 |
| First Quarter 2007 | 14 | $115,761 | $135,720 | $1,200 |
| Second Quarter 2007 | 16 | $227,514 | $163,333 | $41,000 |
| Third Quarter 2007 | 19 | $479,895 | $414,496 | $69,137 |
| Fourth Quarter 2007 | 19 | $1,262,553 | $1,324,139 | $35,875 |
| First Quarter 2008 | 21 | $ 622,255 | $830,920 | $92,950 |
| Second Quarter 2008 | 27 | $718,486 | $1,011,559 | $3,750 |
| Third Quarter 2008 | 40 | $862,640 | $811,954 | $4,843 |
| Fourth Quarter 2008 | 41 | $1,985,420 | $3,978,592 | $4,830 |
| First Quarter 2009 | 21 | $490,230 | $451,730 | $1,560 |
| Second Quarter 2009 | 20 | $429,076 | $447,804 | $3,545 |
| Third Quarter 2009 | 25 | $519,855 | $562,206 | $2,250 |
The Regulation of Campaign Consultants Ordinance (“Ordinance”), San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code, Article I, Chapter 5, Sections 1.500 – 1.540, was approved by San Francisco voters in November 1997. The Ordinance requires persons who earn $1,000 or more per year for campaign consultant services to register with the Ethics Commission and file quarterly activity reports.
The reports include the following information: payments promised by or received from clients of campaign consultants, political contributions made by campaign consultants to local candidates and local ballot measure committees, gifts made by campaign consultants to local candidates, payments promised by or received from vendors or sub-vendors, employment by campaign consultants of local officeholders and City employees, City contracts obtained by campaign consultants during a reporting period and appointment of campaign consultants to public office.
The registration and quarterly activity reports filed by campaign consultants are available for viewing at the Ethics Commission office, 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94102. The telephone number is (415) 252-3100. The Campaign Consultant Summary Report is also available at the Commission office and will be available on the Internet by accessing the Commission’s web site: www.sfethics.org.
The Ethics Commission was established through voter approval of a Charter Amendment in November 1993. The Commission serves the public, City employees and officials, and candidates for public office through education and enforcement of ethics laws. It also provides open access to public records in ethics-related matters. Its duties include: filing and auditing of campaign finance disclosure statements, campaign consultant and lobbyist registration and regulation, administration of the limited public finance and Whistleblower programs, conflict of interest reporting, investigations and enforcement, education and training, providing advice and conducting statistical reporting.
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