Skip to content

Executive Director’s Report – May 30, 2013

English

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
TO THE SAN FRANCISCO ETHICS COMMISSION
For the Special Meeting of May 30, 2013  

1. Statements of Economic Interests.

April 2, 2013 was the deadline for the receipt of annual Statements of Economic Interests (SEIs).  On May 16, 2013, staff sent second notices to 31 non-filers to inform them that the Commission will refer their non-filing status to the Fair Political Practices Commission’s (FPPC) enforcement division for investigation and possible prosecution, if the Commission does not receive their SEI filings by June 5, 2013. 

As of May 17, 2013, 603 filers have filed their annual SEI forms (including leaving office or assuming office statements) with the Commission.  Staff continues to process and post forms on the Commission’s website.

2. Investigation and enforcement program.

As of May 21, 2013, there are 23 pending formal complaints alleging violations within the Ethics Commission’s jurisdiction. 

Category # of Complaints
Campaign Finance 10
Conflict of Interest 8
Governmental Ethics 0
Lobbyist Ordinance 0
Campaign Consultant Ordinance 2
Sunshine Ordinance 3
TOTAL 23

3. Campaign finance disclosure program.

a. Filing deadline.  The most recent filing deadline was on January 31, 2013 for the Second Semi-Annual statement, which covers the reporting period ending December 31, 2012.  The next filing deadline that applies to all campaign filers is July 31, 2013 for the First Semi-Annual Statement, which covers the reporting period ending June 30, 2013. 

b. Collection of late filing fees and contribution forfeitures.  In the FY12-13, as of May 20, the Commission collected a total of $39,063 in campaign finance late fees and forfeitures.  Outstanding late fees and forfeitures total $22,583 of which waiver requests are pending for $210; and $6,659 is pending at the Bureau of Delinquent Revenues (BDR). 

c. Status of accounts to San Francisco Bureau of Delinquent Revenues (BDR).  The following chart provides details on active accounts referred to BDR:

# Committee/
Filer
ID # Treasurer or Responsible Officer Date referral effective Original amount referred Last month’s balance Current balance (Changes are in bold)
1 Johnny K. Wang
JKW Political Consulting
100716 Johnny K. Wang 4/19/11 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 
2 Coalition to Elect  Chris Jackson to Community College Board 1302351 Chris Jackson 6/17/11 2,658.90 $2,658.90 2,658.90
            TOTAL $6,659

4.  Revenues report. 

For FY 12-13, the Commission was budgeted to generate $100,000 in revenues.  As of May 21, 2013, the Commission received $116,980 as summarized below.  The figure represents collection of approximately 117 percent of expected revenues for FY 12-13. 

Revenues received as of May 21, 2013:

Source Budgeted Amount FY 12-13 Receipts
Lobbyist Fees $27,000 $48,075
Other Ethics General $1,000 $113
Campaign Finance Fines $50,000 $39,063
Campaign Consultant Fees $18,000 $7,400
Lobbyist Fines $1,000 $600
Statements of Economic Interests Fines $1,000 $5,580
Other Ethics Fines $1,000 $14,477
Campaign Consultant Fines $1,000 $600
Unallocated $0 $1,072
Total                        $100,000 $116,980

5.  Lobbyist program. 

As of May 16, 2013, 86 individual lobbyists were registered with the Commission. For
FY 12–13, as of May 16, 2013, total revenues collected were $48,675, including $48,075 in lobbyist registration fees and $600 in late fines. The filing deadline for the next lobbyist disclosure statement is June 17, 2013.

6.  Campaign Consultant program. 

As of May 21, 2013, 20 campaign consultants were registered with the Commission. $7,400 in registration fees and $600 in fines have been collected so far during the 2012-2013 fiscal year.  The next campaign consultant quarterly report deadline is Monday, June17, 2013.  Staff will send reminders to all active campaign consultants two weeks before the deadline.

7. Outreach and Education.

Staff conducted a training session on May 1, 2013 for candidates and their treasurers about campaign finance requirements, the voluntary expenditure ceilings applicable to each race (City Attorney, Treasurer, Assessor/Recorder) and the public financing program applicable to candidates for the District 4 seat on the Board of Supervisors. 

On May 8, 2013, staff met with a delegation of 11 Yunnan civil servants representing the Yunnan Provincial Bureau, China.  The group, organized by Triway International Group, which hosts Chinese delegations in the U.S. for educational and exchange purposes, was interested in learning about the work of the Ethics Commission, investigations, and performance standards.

The Commission continues to offer trainings on Statements of Incompatible Activities to City departments via web trainings.  The following are web video trainings available on the Commission website:

  • Department of Building Inspection SIA Training
  • Candidates’ Training
  • Controller’s Office SIA Training
  • Department on the Environment SIA Training
  • Governmental Ethics Ordinance Training for City Employees
  • Lobbyist Ordinance Training
  • Medical Examiner’s Office SIA Training
  • Non-Candidate Recipient Committee Training
  • Public Utilities Commission SIA Training
  • SIA Template Language Training

Respectfully submitted,

 

_________________________
John St. Croix
Executive Director                      

S:\ED Report\2013\5.30.13 special.doc

We are continuously increasing the number of translated pages on this site. Materials on this website that are not currently translated may be translated upon request. Contact us to provide feedback on this page.

Estamos aumentando continuamente el número de páginas traducidas en este sitio. Los materiales de este sitio web que no están traducidos actualmente pueden traducirse previa solicitud. Contáctenos para proporcionar comentarios sobre esta página o solicitar traducciones.

我們正在不斷增加本網站翻譯頁面的數量。本網站上目前未翻譯的資料可根據要求進行翻譯。聯絡我們以在此頁面上提供回饋或要求翻譯。

Patuloy naming dinaragdagan ang bilang ng mga isinalin na pahina sa site na ito. Ang mga materyal sa website na ito na hindi kasalukuyang isinasalin ay maaaring isalin kapag hiniling. Makipag-ugnayan sa amin para magbigay ng feedback sa page na ito o humiling ng mga pagsasalin.