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Commission discloses closed-session outcomes: instructs counsel on Mark Farrell matter and accepts stipulations
Summary
After a closed session, the Ethics Commission disclosed it instructed the City Attorney and Treasurer to pursue a cross-complaint in the Mark Farrell matter and accepted stipulations resolving violations of Section 3.23 by George Gascon, Christine DeBary and Michael Schwartz with fines and warning letters.
Following a closed session on pending complaints, the San Francisco Ethics Commission disclosed two outcomes in open session.
First, the commission instructed the City Attorney and the Treasurer's Office "to vigorously respond to the complaint filed by Mr. Farrell and to file a cross-complaint, seeking to recover the monies that were the subject matter of the forfeiture letter," the chair said in open session.
Second, the commission unanimously accepted stipulations in which three respondents — George Gascon, Christine DeBary and Michael Schwartz — acknowledged violating section 3.23 of the campaign and governmental conduct code (a prohibition on city officers knowingly soliciting political contributions from other city officers or employees). The commission said Gascon agreed to a $4,000 fine and each of DeBary and Schwartz agreed to a $1,400 fine; other named hosts at the event will receive warning letters reminding them of the prohibition.
The commission noted that all three respondents said they were unaware of the specific prohibition; the commission recorded the stipulations as a compliance and education measure.
