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Ethics Commission fines Open and Great Highway $2,400 for late campaign filings related to Measure K
Summary
The San Francisco Ethics Commission approved a stipulated agreement fining the community group Open and Great Highway $2,400 for failing to register and report as a political committee after soliciting contributions to oppose Measure K. The group later filed reports showing under $13,000 in contributions and expenditures.
The San Francisco Ethics Commission on April 11 approved a stipulated agreement requiring Open and Great Highway to pay a $2,400 penalty for failing to timely register and report as a political committee after soliciting contributions to oppose Measure K on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot.
The matter, presented by Senior Investigator Eric Willett, arose after a community complaint prompted an investigation. Willett told commissioners the group solicited political contributions in emails that “explicitly mentioned a proposed ballot measure” and that the respondent later came into compliance, reporting less than $13,000 in contributions and less than $13,000 in expenditures. The stipulation resolves one count and carries the $2,400 fine.
Why it matters: The commission’s enforcement of campaign-finance registration rules aims to keep voters and regulators informed about who is spending to influence ballot measures and to ensure timely disclosure of receipts and expenditures.
Willett said investigators opened the probe in late August 2024 after receiving a complaint and that outreach to the respondent produced fundraising emails indicating activity in opposition to Measure K. He summarized the stipulation and the penalties for commissioners during the meeting. Legal counsel for the respondent, Eli Love, told the commission the group had been a neighborhood organization used to mobilize opposition to a last-minute ballot measure, that its organizers were not experienced with campaign rules, and that once they learned registration was required they “moved as fast as we could to get the reports on file.”
During public comment, Lianne Chang, campaign manager for the Stop the Recall, Stand with Joel campaign, urged the commission to adopt the proposed fine and said the respondent’s leader, Vinh Budai, had prior campaign experience. Chang also said a separate complaint has been filed alleging additional late filings and disclosure omissions by other related committees.
The commission voted to adopt the stipulated decision and order on a roll call: Chair Flores Fang, Commissioner Tsai, Commissioner Francois and Commissioner Yeh all voted aye; the motion passed unanimously.
The stipulated agreement and the fine resolve the enforcement matter brought by staff; the commission record shows the group reported under $13,000 in receipts and under $13,000 in expenditures and that the enforcement count was for failing to register and report as a committee. The transcript indicates the investigation opened after a community complaint and that the respondent retained counsel and took corrective action prior to the hearing.
A copy of the signed stipulation will be included in the commission’s official file.
