For information: Michael Canning, Policy and Legislative Affairs Manager (415) 252-3100
At its monthly public meeting on Friday, November 14, 2025, the San Francisco Ethics Commission unanimously approved a stipulated agreement fining Mark Kelleher, a Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission (“HRC”), $1,500. Commissioner Kelleher had failed to fulfill his annual Ethics and Sunshine Ordinance training requirements over three years in violation of San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code (“SF C&GCC”) section 3.1-102(a) and participated in, and acted on, matters appearing on HRC meeting agendas while disqualified from doing so, in violation of SF C&GCC section 3.1-102.5(c). In the stipulation, Commissioner Kelleher took responsibility for the violations.
As authorized by the City Charter, the resolution of violations through a stipulated agreement enables Respondents and the Ethics Commission to resolve enforcement matters without the need of a lengthier and costlier process involving a hearing on the merits. The Commission is authorized to assess a monetary penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation or three times the amount that was unlawfully received.
As detailed in the Stipulation, Commissioner Kelleher failed to fulfill his annual Ethics and Sunshine Ordinance trainings requirement between 2022 and 2024 in violation of City ethics laws. Consequently, Commissioner Kelleher was disqualified from participating in, and voting on, matters appearing on HRC meeting agendas during the period that his trainings requirements remained unfulfilled. However, Commissioner Kelleher participated in matters appearing before 24 meetings of the HRC despite being disqualified from doing so. Therefore, Commissioner Kelleher violated City ethics laws. After being contacted by investigators, Commissioner Kelleher, who has no history of ethics violations with the Ethics Commission, acknowledged and took full responsibility for his mistake, completed the required trainings, and fulfilled his filing requirements. During the meeting, Commissioner Kelleher appeared before the Commission, apologized for his oversight, and expressed his commitment to remaining current with his filing requirements and maintaining the highest ethical standard in his role as a Commissioner and public servant.
The Commission fined Commissioner Kelleher $1,500 for failing to fulfill his annual training requirements and for participating on agenda items before the Human Rights Commission while disqualified from doing so.
# # #
The San Francisco Ethics Commission was created directly by the City’s voters with the passage of Proposition K in November 1993 and is responsible for the independent and impartial administration and enforcement of laws related to campaign finance, public financing of candidates, governmental ethics, conflicts of interests, and registration and reporting by lobbyists, campaign consultants, permit consultants, and major developers.
Our mission is to practice and promote the highest standards of integrity in government. We achieve that by delivering impactful programs that promote fair, transparent, and accountable governmental decision making for the benefit of all San Franciscans. Public service is a public trust, and our aim is to ensure that San Franciscans can have confidence that the operations of the City and County and the decisions made by its officials and employees are fair, just, and made without any regard to private or personal gain.