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Ordinary Local Government Ethics News Ignored
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
Robert Wechsler
Sensational local government ethics news, such as scandals, is online in minutes. Ordinary local government ethics
news, such as the appointment of a new executive director or general counsel, is covered
more slowly, if at all.
For example, the Los Angeles Ethics Commission announced via press release on November 10 that its nationwide search for a new executive director had ended in the promotion of the EC's excellent director of policy and legislation, Heather Holt. This news made it into the L.A. Daily News on November 28, and never made it into the L.A. Times or L.A. Weekly.
Considering that the EC is one of the leading commissions in the U.S., and that its current director, LeeAnn Pelham, is one of the nation's most respected figures in both local government ethics and campaign finance, this says something about how seriously local government ethics is taken by the press, when there is no scandal to report.
Other news from southern California is that, this week, the firm of Stutz Artiano Shinoff & Holtz has been named general counsel to the San Diego Ethics Commission, according to a press release from the firm. There was no coverage of this, even though it is unusual for an EC to have a firm rather than a staff member as its counsel (the reason, I would guess, is a combination of cost and possible conflicts). Because this firm of 42 attorneys has been active in representing clients in municipal government, conflicts are likely to arise. It will be interesting to see how they are dealt with.
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
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For example, the Los Angeles Ethics Commission announced via press release on November 10 that its nationwide search for a new executive director had ended in the promotion of the EC's excellent director of policy and legislation, Heather Holt. This news made it into the L.A. Daily News on November 28, and never made it into the L.A. Times or L.A. Weekly.
Considering that the EC is one of the leading commissions in the U.S., and that its current director, LeeAnn Pelham, is one of the nation's most respected figures in both local government ethics and campaign finance, this says something about how seriously local government ethics is taken by the press, when there is no scandal to report.
Other news from southern California is that, this week, the firm of Stutz Artiano Shinoff & Holtz has been named general counsel to the San Diego Ethics Commission, according to a press release from the firm. There was no coverage of this, even though it is unusual for an EC to have a firm rather than a staff member as its counsel (the reason, I would guess, is a combination of cost and possible conflicts). Because this firm of 42 attorneys has been active in representing clients in municipal government, conflicts are likely to arise. It will be interesting to see how they are dealt with.
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
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