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Ethics panel grants Jeff Sheehy post-employment waiver to seek UC jobs, citing hardship
Summary
The commission granted former Supervisor Jeff Sheehy a waiver from the city—s post-service employment restriction to accept employment with the University of California, finding extreme hardship and limiting his post-employment participation as spelled out in the code; vote was unanimous.
The San Francisco Ethics Commission unanimously approved a waiver allowing former Supervisor Jeff Sheehy to seek employment with the University of California, finding that he demonstrated "extreme hardship" justifying the limited exemption from the city's post-employment employment restriction.
Pat Ford, senior policy analyst, told commissioners the code bars officers who participated personally and substantially in awarding a contract from receiving compensation from a contracting party for 12 months after award unless a waiver is issued. Sheehy had voted on three contracts that involved the University of California while serving as supervisor, which triggered the rule. Ford said staff did not make an explicit recommendation for or against a waiver but suggested any waiver should be tailored to the position described in Sheehy—s memo if granted.
Jeff Sheehy spoke in support of his request, describing his 17 years of work at the University of California and the personal hardships he faces, including living with HIV. "I was not aware a conflict existed...out of an abundance of caution, I have been discussing with city attorney John Givner any opportunities that I'm looking at," Sheehy said. He told commissioners he had not yet been offered a role and had not interviewed, and that seeking a waiver before interviewing was a precaution to avoid inadvertently violating the code.
Commissioners discussed whether to tailor any waiver to a single position or to allow Sheehy to pursue any position within the University of California system. Several commissioners said limiting the waiver to a single identified position would create hardship because Sheehy had no offer and the position was open; others noted the code—s focus on extreme hardship as the statutory standard. Public testimony largely supported granting a waiver, with speakers citing Sheehy—s public-health work and the importance of the city retaining experienced HIV service professionals.
After discussion and a brief procedural correction clarifying the waiver applies to the University of California system, Chair called the motion to grant the waiver (with conditions described by staff, including recusal from matters involving the contracts at issue). The motion passed unanimously; the chair congratulated Sheehy and wished him well.
What happens next: staff will draft a written waiver order tailored to the facts the commission considered and will include recusal obligations specified under the code. The waiver relieves the 12-month bar only to the extent described in the commission order; other post-employment restrictions in the code remain applicable.
Representative quote: "The waiver is with respect to post service employment contained in the code section 3.234 A3," a commissioner said as the motion passed.
