Ethics Commission pick draws debate as Rules Committee forwards nonprofit leader to full Board

The Rules Committee on May 16 heard extended, at-times pointed testimony over a single vacancy on the San Francisco Ethics Commission before forwarding nonprofit executive Brett Andrews to the full Board of Supervisors.

Halda Garfolo, who chaired a civil grand jury inquiry that published the report "The Sleeping Watchdog," said the Ethics Commission ‘‘continues to fail in its mandated mission’’ and criticized the body’s historical reluctance to enforce the Sunshine Ordinance, the lack of timely reporting and failures to investigate whistleblower retaliation. "The grand jury's thorough investigation revealed ... an agency which continues to fail in its mandated mission," Garfolo said during her remarks.

Brett Andrews, executive director of Positive Resource Center, described his decade of experience managing government contracts and supervising attorneys and said he would prioritize public education on ethics and work to strengthen enforcement authority. "If appointed, my priorities would be to work with the commission and staff on continued development of educational programs... and to work with the commission on strengthening and increasing the commission's enforcement authority," Andrews said.

Several former commissioners and civic advocates testified in favor of Garfolo’s candidacy. Former Ethics Commissioner Eileen Hanson said the six-year, nonrenewable term is meant for candidates with deep, sustained ethics experience; Charles Marsteller and former HUD staffer Larry Bush also urged the committee to forward the civil-grand-jury candidate because of institutional knowledge and leadership concerns.

During deliberations supervisors described two strong candidates and debated whether to send one or both names to the full Board. Supervisor London Breed moved to forward Brett Andrews, describing him as a ‘‘fresh face’’ with nonprofit experience; Supervisor Coleman suggested forwarding both names. The committee ultimately moved and passed the nomination of Brett Andrews to the full Board by voice vote with no recorded objections.

What happens next The Rules Committee action forwards Andrews’ nomination to the full Board of Supervisors, which will consider confirmation at its next meeting (the committee flagged these items for the June 4 agenda). The substantive criticisms raised by Garfolo and others about the Ethics Commission’s transparency and enforcement were recorded in committee testimony but were not resolved by the committee; they may resurface in future oversight discussions or Board hearings.