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Ethics office underscores staffing push, Form 700 outreach and a planned lobbying audit
Summary
Director Pelham reported staff turnover, five open hires, expanded Form 700 training for filers, web resources for paper filers and a plan to recruit an audit manager to pursue a lobbying audit this fiscal year.
Director Pelham told the commission the office is working to fill five posted positions, reported recent departures in audit and investigative staff, and described outreach to make Form 700 filing and filer contact information easier for the public to access.
Pelham said the office ran training sessions for filers this season, with about 80 filing officers attending live sessions, and plans to add web links to help the public identify whom to contact for paper-filed Form 700 statements. "We have a session on March 17... where people can go and log in directly to that session," Pelham said, and he proposed adding direct links on the office webpage to improve public access.
Commissioners pressed for an accelerated lobbying audit. The audit manager job is posted and staff said they expect to begin work once the position is filled, with a pilot audit targeted by the end of the fiscal year. Commissioners urged exploring outside contractors or expert consultants to meet urgent timelines if hiring delays persist; the director said contracting would divert scarce staff resources but agreed to keep the commission updated on hiring progress.
