Ethics Commission approves CPS executive-search contract over outreach objections

The San Francisco Ethics Commission voted 4–1 to approve a contract with CPS Human Resources to conduct the search for the commission's next executive director. The vote followed a debate over whether to proceed with the single bid the city received or to extend outreach to solicit additional proposals.

Chair Carrie Lee asked the commission for direction after Department of Human Resources (DHR) staff reported CPS was the only responding vendor from the city's approved list and outlined a proposed four-month timeline to complete an executive search. DHR's Sean Sherburn said CPS is an experienced vendor the city has used before and that commissioners and staff would meet with the firm to build a candidate profile.

Commissioner Bush objected to moving forward without broader outreach. She said the proposal lacked mention of outreach to Asian-language communities and to deaf former commissioners and urged the commission not to approve a contract until outreach expanded. "We have a need to reach out to underserved communities," Bush said, arguing the commission should be proactive about inclusion.

Other commissioners said they shared the outreach concerns but stressed the limited market response and tight schedule. "Unless there are any red flags that DHR can point to, I don't see why we wouldn't move forward," Commissioner Finliff said, adding that commissioners and staff can supplement the firm's outreach.

After a brief opportunity for public comment on the agenda item (no callers were queued), the commission voted by roll call: Commissioners Flores Fang, Finliff and Romano and Chair Lee voted Aye; Commissioner Bush voted No. The motion carried 4 to 1. The commission directed the search committee and commissioners to meet individually with CPS and take an active role in candidate outreach and community engagement.

The DHR representative said the city's preapproved vendor list included 11 firms that had already competed in a prior RFP; that only one responded for this search was consistent with recent patterns across executive recruitments. Sherburn said he would remain engaged with the process to help the firm navigate city contracting requirements.

The commission's action moves the recruitment contract process to the next contracting and outreach steps; commissioners emphasized they expect commissioner-driven outreach and meetings with CPS to start promptly.

Next steps: commissioners and the search committee will meet with CPS and DHR staff individually to shape the candidate profile and outreach plan. The commission did not specify a date for final candidate selection during the meeting.