Ethics commission speeds executive director search as incumbent plans Jan. 23 departure

The San Francisco Ethics Commission on Nov. 18 moved to accelerate its search for a replacement executive director after the current director announced a departure effective Jan. 23.

Chair Lee told commissioners the commission has "less than 3 months to hire the next ED" and described plans to form a publicly noticed search committee chaired by the chair with Vice Chair Busch as alternate. The commission is seeking a national, inclusive search and wants any selected firm to run an extensive community-engagement component, Lee said.

The push for speed follows a timetable in which the request for qualifications for search firms was set to close Nov. 28 and a firm could be selected shortly after. "If the committee can just look at the firm and just say okay…they would definitely be at the December meeting," Lee said, arguing that getting a firm started early would allow it to do outreach and notice work during a narrow winter window.

Several commissioners expressed concern about rushing the selection. One commissioner said they expected more than one firm to respond and urged additional time to evaluate proposals and to review candidates. Deputy City Attorney Brad Russell advised that commissioners may review application materials privately but must maintain applicant confidentiality and avoid inter-commissioner communications outside a noticed meeting.

Commissioners debated the role of a two-member search committee versus the full commission. Chair Lee and others said the Department of Human Resources (DHR) would only vet firms for minimum city requirements and that the commission itself would decide which firm to engage. Lee described the search firm’s role as largely administrative: organizing listening sessions, reserving locations and ensuring notice requirements are met so commissioners can do the listening.

On the mechanics of candidate review, commissioners discussed multi-stage screening: the search firm performing an initial round to filter out clearly unqualified applicants, and the commission participating as a full body from the second round on to evaluate semifinalists and finalists. Commissioners also asked to receive all resumes so they could individually review applications while preserving applicant confidentiality.

Next steps: the commission asked staff and the search committee to coordinate with DHR to confirm dates and, if possible, to post a brief notice inviting outreach while the final job description is finalized for a December vote. The commission plans to return items related to the search at upcoming meetings and could call a special meeting if timing requires.