Measure G purportedly created an independent county Ethics Commission. But Governance Reform Task Force members discovered that the county must return to the ballot on Nov. 3 to make good on the promised independence.
San Diego County voters will consider a November ballot measure to create a new ethics commission and new county positions. It looks a lot like Los Angeles County's reforms. Or does it?
There is some irony in the decision to let the assessor appoint a member to the Ethics Commission but not the district attorney. Former Assessor John Noguez is currently on trial for bribery. District Attorney Nathan Hochman is the former president of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission.
It turns out that you can't create an independent Ethics Commission, or even talk about one, if you don't get to pick your own lawyer.
Measure G promised Los Angeles County voters an independent Ethics Commission. County culture, and the county Charter, got in the way.