Residents are invited to apply for a spot on the City of Long Beach Ethics Commission, with three positions up for grabs.
With the approval of Measure CCC on Nov. 6, 2018, Long Beach voters amended the City Charter to create an Ethics Commission made up of seven residents for the purpose of monitoring, administering and implementing governmental ethics in Long Beach. The Ethics Commission meets at 3 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Long Beach Civic Chambers, located at 411 W. Ocean Blvd.
“The Ethics Commission is key to building public trust and ensuring accountability in City Hall,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “We’re calling on civic-minded residents to help uphold the integrity of our local government and strengthen transparency across Long Beach.”
The Commission carries several advisory responsibilities, including the impartial and effective administration and implementation of the provisions of the City’s Charter, statutes and ordinances concerning campaign financing, lobbying, conflicts of interest and governmental ethics.
The listed duties of the Commission are as follows:
- Provide support to agencies and public officials in administering the provisions of the Charter and other laws relating to campaign finance, conflicts of interest and government ethics.
- Make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council concerning campaign finance reform, lobbying, governmental ethics and conflicts of interest and to report to the Council concerning the effectiveness of these laws.
- Assist departments in developing their conflict of interest codes as required by state law.
- Advocate understanding of the Charter, City ordinances and the roles of elected and other public officials, City institutions and the City electoral process;
- Develop an educational program to familiarize newly elected and appointed officers and employees, candidates for elective office and their campaign treasurers, and lobbyists with City, state and federal ethics laws and the importance of ethics to the public’s confidence in municipal government.
Ethics Commissioners serve four-year terms, with members not allowed to serve more than two consecutive terms. The Mayor and City Auditor typically appoint two members each, then the City Council conducts a confirmation process for the new appointments. The final three members are appointed by the City Council-confirmed Commissioners, following public recruitment and application processes, by the affirmative votes of at least three Commission members.
One of the Mayor’s previously appointed Commissioners left before their term ended and was replaced, meaning this time around the Mayor will appoint only one new member, while the City Auditor will appoint two new members.
“The Ethics Commission is comprised of experts in public policy and law, governmental ethics, and campaign finance,” said City Auditor Laura Doud in a public statement. “Those who apply must be fair-minded, diligent, and committed to ensuring that the City adheres to ethical standards.”
Requirements for all Ethics Commission members, during their terms, are as follows:
- No member of the Commission shall currently hold elective office in the City of Long Beach, including the Long Beach Unified School District Board or the Long Beach Community College Board of Trustees.
- No member of the Commission may serve as an officer in any election campaign for or against a candidate for any current elected office in the City of Long Beach, Long Beach Unified School District or the Long Beach Community College District, or any City or District measure.
- No member of the Commission may be an employee of the City.
- No member of the Commission may employ or be employed as a person required to register as a lobbyist with the City.
Additional primary requirements include:
- Attend monthly Commission meetings.
- Complete outside preparation work each month for meetings.
- Complete a LiveScan background check.
- Participate in required ongoing training of Commissioners.
Prerequisites for the Mayor’s appointment include being involved with local civic organizations and a noted history of involvement with local governance. As for the City Auditor’s two appointments, requirements include a background in public policy or public law, governmental ethics or open government matters, campaign finance, auditing of ethics laws and/or protection of whistleblowers.
The application can be completed online, and interested candidates are advised to submit their applications by June 5 for consideration. The Mayor and the City Auditor plan to announce their appointees in July.
For more information about the Ethics Commission and its duties and responsibilities, residents can visit the City’s Ethics Commission webpage. For any questions about the Ethics Commission, contact Ethics Officer Heather Van Wijk by phone at 562-570-7443 or email at Heather.VanWijk@longbeach.gov.
