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Ethics Commission issues default judgment and $3,000 fine against William Walker for disclosure violations
Summary
After the respondent failed to appear, the Ethics Commission issued a default judgment on six counts and imposed a $500-per-count penalty totaling $3,000, citing the importance of campaign disclosure compliance.
The San Francisco Ethics Commission issued a default judgment July 11 against respondent William Walker on six counts of campaign-disclosure violations and imposed a total penalty of $3,000, the commission said at a public hearing.
Enforcement staff told the commission Walker was duly noticed of the hearing and had acknowledged receipt of notices; Walker did not appear. Director of Enforcement Matthews said the enforcement division requested a penalty of $500 per count — $3,000 total — and sought an order requiring Walker to comply with the disclosure obligations. "These are important disclosures," Matthews said, adding that the public has an interest in knowing campaign spending and that past noncompliance justified the penalty.
The enforcement division represented that Walker received written notice on June 3 and that staff had followed up by telephone and attempted to obtain cooperation. Matthews told the commission that Walker has acknowledged the notices in prior communications but did not indicate he would be absent for the hearing.
The commission voted to issue a default judgment on counts one through six and then voted to impose the requested penalty. In roll-call votes reported at the meeting, Commissioners Yeh, Francois and Acting Chair Salahi each recorded “Aye.” The motions passed on a 3-0 vote.
Enforcement staff said the penalties were set in part to ensure accountability and to address disclosures the division described as important to public oversight of campaign activity; the staff filing compared similar prior cases and recommended the $500-per-count assessment. The Commission ordered the fine and that Walker comply with any outstanding disclosure obligations listed in the enforcement file. The record shows no further action on settlements or payment arrangements in the hearing minutes.
The Ethics Commission’s enforcement division will handle collection of the fine through standard city processes; staff noted respondents who claim financial hardship may be able to request separate collection accommodations through the city’s delinquent-revenue procedures, but the commission does not itself accept installment plans.
