Steve Napolitano, 4th District County Supervisor Candidate, Presents Details on Creation of County Campaign Ethics Commission with Real Rules and Real Penalties

Candidate is Deeply Concerned About Times Story Revelations Regarding Rival Hahn's Reckless Fundraising Tactics

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Nov 03, 2016, 03:56 ET

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Steve Napolitano, candidate for 4^th District County Supervisor, today on the steps of the downtown Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, detailed his proposal for creating a Los Angeles County Campaign Ethics Commission to oversee campaign fundraising in countywide elections. The proposed commission would have oversight similar to ethics panels already in place for the City of Los Angeles established way back in 1990 and the County of Orange just last year.

Napolitano stated that the need for campaign reform has been years in the making, but is especially timely during this election season and in light of a recent major Los Angeles Times investigation of fundraising by local elected officials. Despite an ethics law passed by voters, Proposition B, and numerous high profile transgressions of public trust in recent years, Los Angeles County remains woefully ill-equipped to deal with improper or illegal activities by its elected officials.

In just the past few years, Napolitano noted, the County has seen its Assessor jailed for granting favors and its Sheriff prosecuted and jailed for obstruction of justice.

"I believe it is time to act and create an independent commission to monitor and prosecute anyone who engages in unscrupulous fundraising practices whether it be a donor, elected official or candidate," said Napolitano. "It is unconscionable that the largest County in the United States lacks an ethics commission or modern tools for tracking campaign contributions. This is fixable and — as Supervisor — I intend to fix it."

Specifically, Napolitano proposed the commission be established with the following parameters:

·	Subpoena Power and Independent Legal Counsel
	The body should be empowered to subpoena documents and witnesses, have the benefit of legal counsel independent of the D.A. or County Counsel's office, and to appoint a special prosecutor if the County's enforcement agents are in a conflict of interest.

·	Jurisdiction over Campaign Finance, Lobbying and Ethics Laws
	The commission must have broad jurisdiction over campaign, lobbying, and ethics/conflict of interest laws — and conduct a comprehensive review of these existing laws to make appropriate recommendations for reform.

·	Bipartisan Appointments by County Superior Court
	Because of the systemic issues impacting our County, the Commissioners should be bipartisan and independently appointed by Superior Court judges.

·	Enhanced Tracing of Campaign Contributions
	Finally, the county must develop state-of-the-art reporting and tracing systems to track illicit funds. "Dark Money" has corrupted democracy in LA County and technology exists to properly track and disclose undue influence.

·	Empowered by a Vote of the People
	To make these reforms as strong as possible, and prevent the commission from ever being disbanded without voter approval, a package including the reforms above will be presented to County Voters for enactment.

"I would call Prop B a good start, but lacking the power of its convictions," said Napolitano. "As Supervisor, I will guarantee that Prop B is utilized as the tip of the spear in cleaning up the mess we find ourselves in. My campaign for Supervisor has been about the people of Los Angeles County deserving better. Deserving better services, better representation and better results."

For more information, please go to www.stevenapolitano.com

SOURCE Steve Napolitano