Background
In 2024, Los Angeles County voters passed Measure G, which requires the creation of an independent Ethics Commission and Office of Ethics Compliance to promote ethical, transparent, and accountable County government.
The Los Angeles County Ethics Commission is expected to serve as an independent ethics oversight body for the County. The Commission’s role includes overseeing and enforcing laws related to campaign finance, lobbying, conflicts of interest, governmental ethics, and related matters; providing strategic oversight of the Office of Ethics Compliance; adopting rules, regulations, policies, complaint procedures, and penalty guidelines; issuing formal opinions; and adjudicating enforcement matters, including making final decisions following administrative hearings and imposing penalties where authorized.
The Office of Ethics Compliance will carry out the Commission’s day-to-day work, which includes education and training, advice and guidance, public transparency and disclosure administration, investigations, audits, referrals to other enforcement agencies, and public reporting.
Ethics Commissioners may be asked to review sensitive or complex matters and must exercise independent judgment, fairness, impartiality, and discretion. Commissioners shall not act as representatives of any nominating authority, elected official, organization, or interest group.
The Commission will meet at least six times per calendar year, and meetings will be subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act. Commissioners will need to prepare for meetings, review materials, participate in hearings or other Commission activities, complete required trainings or disclosures, and comply with applicable ethics and service restrictions.
The time commitment is subject to change and may vary based on the Commission’s meeting schedule, agenda items, enforcement matters, hearings, subcommittee meetings, preparation time, and other Commission business. Commissioners should expect to spend approximately 5 to 20 hours per month on Commission-related work. During start-up, the time required initially may be greater. Commissioners are expected to receive $250 per meeting and reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties, in accordance with applicable County Code and policies.
Structure of the Ethics Commission
The Los Angeles County Ethics Commission will have seven members. Applications submitted through this process may be reviewed for consideration by the applicable nominating authority and/or the initial Ethics Commission, subject to the final ordinance and formal appointment by the Board of Supervisors.
The appointment structure includes the following nominating authorities:
- Governance Reform Task Force (GRTF) initial nomination / County Executive seat beginning in 2029- One member will initially be nominated through the GRTF process following a public recruitment and application process. Beginning January 1, 2029, this member will instead be nominated by the elected County Executive. This nominee must have a background in public information and public meetings, community outreach and engagement, or using technology as it relates to open government. The initial term for this seat will expire on June 30, 2029.
- Chair of the Board of Supervisors nomination- One member will be nominated by the Chair of the Board of Supervisors. This nominee must have a background in public policy or public law. The initial term for this seat will expire on June 30, 2030.
- Assessor nomination- One member will be nominated by the Assessor. This nominee must have a background in campaign finance, accounting, auditing, and compliance with ethics laws in the public or private sector, or protection of whistleblowers. The initial term for this seat will expire on June 30, 2027.
- Commission-nominated public applicant pool- Once the first three nominees are appointed, the Commission will nominate the remaining four members at a public meeting following a public recruitment and application process, which should include outreach to communities that are underrepresented in the County’s political process. These nominees should be broadly representative of the general public, and at least one Commission-nominated member must reside in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. The initial terms for two Commission-nominated seats will expire on June 30, 2028, and the initial terms for the remaining two Commission-nominated seats will expire on June 30, 2031.
After the initial staggered terms, Commissioners will serve five-year terms beginning July 1 and ending June 30. A member who has served a complete five-year term is not eligible for reappointment. If a replacement has not been appointed by the end of a member’s term, the member may continue serving in a holdover capacity until a new member is appointed, for a period not to exceed one year.
Nominating authorities shall value lived experience, community leadership, traditional and non-traditional expertise, and working-class accessibility. Nominating authorities and the Board shall consider relevant analytical skills, ability to be impartial, and appreciation for the County’s diverse demographics, to the extent feasible and permissible by law.
Commissioners may also be subject to attendance requirements, including possible vacancy provisions for missed meetings, ceasing to be a County resident, removal, or other circumstances specified by ordinance.
Application Overview
The County of Los Angeles is accepting applications for individuals interested in serving on the Los Angeles County Ethics Commission.
The application period will be open from July 6, 2026, through July 26, 2026.
The information submitted in this application will be used to determine eligibility, qualifications, and suitability for consideration for the Los Angeles County Ethics Commission and for review, nomination, and appointment purposes.
Applications and related materials may be public records subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act, except as otherwise protected by law. Application materials may also be reviewed, discussed, displayed, posted, recorded, or otherwise made available as part of a public screening, interview, nomination, or appointment process, including at a public meeting or in materials provided to the GRTF, the Ethics Commission, the Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors, the Board of Supervisors, or other applicable nominating or appointing authority. Interviews may be recorded for review by applicable nominating or appointing authority.
The review and selection process may include initial screening or narrowing by an ad hoc committee, subcommittee, staff, or other reviewing body. The process may also include use of publicly discussed or approved screening criteria, a rubric, or a narrowing process. Not all applicants will be interviewed or selected as finalists.
Applicants selected as finalists may have their names, application materials, responses, qualifications, and related information released publicly, posted with meeting materials, discussed at a public meeting, and considered during public comment, public interviews, deliberations, nomination, and appointment proceedings.
Finalists may be asked to participate in a public interview before the GRTF or another nominating or appointing authority. Public interviews may be livestreamed, recorded, posted, or otherwise made available to the public. Deliberations regarding applicants, finalists, nominees, rankings, alternates, or recommendations may occur in closed session to the extent permitted by law, and any final recommendation, nomination, or appointment action may be reported or acted upon publicly.
Do not submit Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account numbers, or other personal identifying information that is not requested in this application.
Submitting an application does not guarantee nomination or appointment. Information provided in the application may be used to determine which nominating authority or background requirement may be applicable.
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