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Ethics Commission tables streamlined resolution for lobbyist Jennifer Stojakovich after public challenges
Summary
After public callers alleged undeclared lobbying contacts, the San Francisco Ethics Commission paused a staff-proposed streamlined settlement for lobbyist Jennifer Stojakovich and asked staff to investigate new information and return with a revised proposal at the next meeting.
The San Francisco Ethics Commission on Aug. 2 declined to approve a staff-proposed streamlined stipulation involving lobbyist Jennifer Stojakovich after public commenters raised new allegations that she failed to report communications with Supervisor Matt Haney.
During public comment Judith Reese said she found records showing email communications in May and June the respondent did not report on the city's lobbying registry. "She didn't report it on the lobbying registry website," Reese said, urging the commission to remove the matter from the consent calendar and consider it separately.
Staff investigator Eric Willett told commissioners the agreed stipulation before them resolved prior liability: "The corrective action has been taken on these 22 lobbyist reports," Willett said, describing 22 amended reports covering Jan. 2018 through May 2021 and noting the respondent had made roughly 40 lobbyist contacts while qualifying as a lobbyist. Willett added that if staff discover additional liability, that would be pursued as a separate enforcement matter and could remove the case from the streamlined program.
Commissioners expressed concern about approving a negotiated resolution while new allegations were being produced in public comment and while the investigative record and settlement communications remain confidential. Commissioner Bush and others asked whether the commission could see more of the investigative record; staff and the deputy city attorney replied that investigative files and settlement communications are treated as confidential under the charter and current procedures, and that declining approval would likely push the matter into the mainline enforcement track for fuller review.
Given the public allegations and commissioner questions, staff recommended tabling the item. Chair Lee and other commissioners agreed and asked staff to prioritize follow-up and to return with a revised proposal at the Commission's next meeting.
What's next: The Commission did not vote on the substance of the stipulation; it tabled consideration and directed staff to report back with further information at the September meeting. The tabled item remains open to further investigation and could be refiled under the mainline program if staff conclude additional liability exists.
