OC Politics Blog | Tag Archives: Ethics Commission

Denah Hoard hired as the new Director of the Orange County Ethics Commission

Posted on March 15, 2025 by Editor Posted in Denah Hoard, Ethics, OC Board of Supervisors, Orange County 1 Comment

County Hires Director of Ethics Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carrie Braun, Public Information Mgr., 714-788-8060, [email protected]

Santa Ana, Calif. (March 14, 2025) — The County of Orange Board of Supervisors voted today to hire Denah Hoard as the County’s Executive Director of the Office for Campaign Finance and Ethics Commission.

In October 2015, the Board of Supervisors reviewed the recommendations of a special committee spearheaded by Supervisor Todd Spitzer, Third District, and Supervisor Shawn Nelson, Fourth District, evaluating the establishment of a local ethics commission, and directed County attorneys to prepare ballot language for an ordinance. The ordinance was approved by Orange County voters in June 2016 with more than 70 percent voting in favor. The County then conducted a public recruitment for the Executive Director, who will oversee the five-person commission. Continue reading→

Voters approve the Orange County Ethics Commission in a landslide

Posted on June 11, 2024 by Editor Posted in Ethics, OC Board of Supervisors, Orange County, Santa Ana, Shirley Grindle Leave a comment

Voters Approve County Ethics Commission in Landslide

By: O.C. Supervisor Todd Spitzer

On Tuesday, voters approved the creation of the Orange County Campaign Finance and Ethics Commission in a landslide of 69.9%-30.1%. This historic vote creates California’s first County Ethics Commission (all other ethics commissions are at the city-level).

“This effort has taken years of work by a wide group of people,” Supervisor Todd Spitzer said. “I thank the people of Orange County for overwhelmingly deciding to implement this critical reform.”

The Orange Campaign Finance and Ethics Commission will oversee: Continue reading→

Supervisor Steel explains why she opposes putting the Ethics Commission vote on the ballot

Posted on October 20, 2024 by Editor Posted in 2016 Elections, Ballot Measures, Ethics, Michelle Steel, OC Board of Supervisors, Orange County 4 Comments

STATEMENT OF SUPERVISOR MICHELLE STEEL ON THE INITIATIVE TO CREATE A COUNTY ETHICS COMMISSION

“As the County recovers from the two decades long bankruptcy, the last thing we need is a million dollar golden hammer in search of a two penny nail.

My primary concern about creating a new government bureaucracy to oversee campaigns and elections here in the County is the cost and that it would only affect a relatively few number of candidates running for the 12 County offices – Supervisor (5 districts), District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner, Auditor-Controller, Treasurer-Tax Collector, Assessor, Clerk-Recorder and the County Superintendent of Schools. According the Registrar of Voters, on average there are only 25 candidates in a 4-year election cycle that run for County offices. Continue reading→

Local Orange County Ethics Commission vote headed for the June ballot

Posted on October 20, 2024 by Editor Posted in 2016 Elections, Ethics, OC Board of Supervisors, Orange County, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

Local Ethics Commission Vote Headed for June Ballot

(Santa Ana, CA) — Local voters will be asked on the June 7 ballot to form an Orange County Campaign Finance and Ethics Commission and to make related changes to the County Campaign Reform Ordinance after action Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.

“Elected officials have a responsibility to follow the rules when it comes to campaign finance and government ethics. This ballot measure will help fix compliance issues caused by common errors and help educate candidates and elected officials through training and advice, with enforcement penalties implemented in the most serious cases,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Spitzer, Third District, said. “The Ethics Ordinance increases oversight and compliance.”
Continue reading→

Board of Supervisors advance campaign finance and Ethics Commission

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Editor Posted in Ethics, OC Board of Supervisors, Orange County, Shawn Nelson, Shirley Grindle, Todd Spitzer 4 Comments

Board of Supervisors Advance Campaign Finance and Ethics Commission

By Todd Spitzer, Chairman of the O.C. Board of Supervisors

This week, the Orange County Board of Supervisors moved closer to finalizing a ballot measure that would create an independent ethics oversight commission and strengthen enforcement of regulations on campaign finance, lobbyists, and other governmental ethics.

The newly formed ethics commission would oversee conduct relating to “Time is Now, Clean Up Politics” (TINCUP), which was passed in 1978 creating the Orange County Campaign Reform Ordinance; the County gift ban; the County Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Ordinance; and the County Code of Ethics. Continue reading→

Supervisor Do proposes an OC Ethics Commission with subpoena power

Posted on October 2, 2024 by Editor Posted in Andrew Do, Ethics, OC Board of Supervisors, Orange County Leave a comment

Andrew Do

For Immediate Release: October 2, 2024

SUPERVISOR ANDREW DO PROPOSES OC ETHICS COMMISSION WITH SUBPOENA POWER

Proposal Includes Contribution Tracking, Ethics Training to Add Teeth to TINCUP

Santa Ana, California — In an effort to add teeth to TINCUP, Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do is proposing an Orange County Ethics Commission to enforce and administer the county’s landmark campaign finance law. The new commission, as proposed by Supervisor Do, would have the power to subpoena bank records, investigate campaign finance violations, and create an independent campaign contribution tracking system.

“Orange County needs to add teeth to TINCUP,” said Supervisor Andrew Do, who modeled his proposal after ethics commissions from across the country. “An ethics commission can help restore the public’s trust in government and ensure that all campaigns play by the same rules.” Continue reading→