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Ethics Commission posts $9,000 stipulation; finds probable cause in three campaign‑reporting matters
Summary
After a closed‑session deliberation on June 23, the commission announced a stipulation with Claudine Chang to pay $9,000 for three violations of the San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code and issued probable‑cause findings in three separate complaints (respondents: Robert Squirey, Melissa Opuya, Wendy Aragon) for campaign‑reporting and disclosure failures.
The San Francisco Ethics Commission, following closed‑session deliberations at its June 23 meeting, announced a stipulation and multiple probable‑cause determinations.
Item 4: Stipulation. The commission announced it reached a stipulation with Claudine Chang under which Chang agreed to pay $9,000 to resolve three alleged violations of the San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code. The executive director said the stipulation will be posted on the Ethics Commission’s website the following day.
Item 5: Probable‑cause findings and certification. The commission also found probable cause in three separate matters and certified on the record that each commissioner who participated personally heard or read the testimony and reviewed the evidence.
- Complaint 18‑121029 (respondent Robert Squirey): The commission determined probable cause to believe Squirey failed to include a required disclosure statement in the required type size on a door hanger, in violation of San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code section 1.162.
- Complaint 18‑131115 (respondent Melissa Opuya): The commission determined probable cause to believe Opuya failed to file campaign statement Form 460 by multiple required deadlines (listed in the commission’s announcement) in violation of California Government Code section 84200 as incorporated by the San Francisco code.
- Complaint 2020‑131115 (respondent Wendy Aragon): The commission determined probable cause to believe Aragon failed to file campaign statement Form 460 by specified deadlines in violation of California Government Code section 84200 as incorporated by the San Francisco code.
For the matters in which probable cause was found, the executive director was instructed to issue an accusation in accordance with the commission’s regulations for investigations and enforcement proceedings. The commission reiterated that respondents are presumed innocent until any allegation is finally approved in a subsequent hearing on the merits.
No commissioner identified a contrary vote during the recorded certifications; several commissioners verbally stated, “So certify.” The commission did not disclose closed‑session deliberations related to these items at the meeting and recorded the procedural certifications on the public record.
Next steps: the executive director will issue formal accusations where required and the commission will set subsequent hearings on the merits according to its enforcement rules.
