Public Ethics Commission Regular Meeting – January 21, 2026

The Public Ethics Commission (PEC) of Oakland held its regular meeting on January 21, 2026, chaired by Francis Upton. The meeting covered approval of prior minutes, election of officers, appointment of two new commissioners, a detailed presentation on the Democracy Dollars outreach plan, closure of an enforcement case, and updates on enforcement and administrative activities. Commissioners bade farewell to outgoing members Gage and Steele and welcomed a newly appointed mayor-appointed commissioner, Lawrence Brandon, whose term begins the following day.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gene Hazard spoke multiple times. He argued that Enforcement Chief Ackerman erroneously dismissed his complaints (2530, 2533, and 2537) concerning a special election ballot measure and the City Council’s suspension of Rule 29. He stated that the dismissals were without legal merit, that the commission was ignoring clear statutory provisions, and that he is preparing additional writs of mandate. He accused the commission of lacking integrity and called it a “kangaroo court.”
• Ralph Kanz raised several issues: (1) that PEC ad hoc subcommittees violate the Brown Act when non-commissioners participate, despite the city attorney’s opinion; (2) that the mayor’s charter reform working group is being conducted in secret with private funding, and his public records request for related documents has gone unanswered; and (3) that a complaint regarding the redistricting commission has been pending for two years without action. He expressed concern over the PEC’s history of delayed public records responses.
• During the discussion of the Democracy Dollars outreach plan, Mr. Kanz commented that the program is unfunded and unlikely to launch in 2028, citing Seattle’s experience where administrative overhead consumed 46% of funds and voucher usage remained low. He argued the program is a “sham.” Another speaker (likely Mr. Hazard again) questioned why residents (non‑voters) would receive vouchers and asked about the definition of “democracy” used by the presenters.
• During the enforcement report, Mr. Hazard again criticized the dismissal of his complaints and stated that the commission’s failure to act on his appeals disrespects the mayor and the rule of law.

Discussion Items

• Roll Call and Announcements: All seven commissioners were present. Chair Upton welcomed incoming commissioner Lawrence Brandon and thanked outgoing commissioners Gage and Steele for their service. Commissioner Upton also made a personal statement regarding federal ICE actions and community solidarity.
• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the November 19 and December 10, 2025, meetings were approved. November vote: 5 ayes, 1 abstention (Steele, absent). December vote: 4 ayes, 2 abstentions (Bayeva and Steele, both absent). Reason for abstentions noted.
• Election of Officers: Commissioner Talak declined the nomination for chair; Commissioner Upton was re‑elected as chair (unanimous). Commissioner Talak was elected vice chair (unanimous). Terms begin January 22, 2026.
• Commissioner Selection: The PEC interviewed four finalists (Luke Apfeld, Angela Fisher, David Liu, Andy McCoy) for two appointed vacancies. Each candidate gave a four‑minute presentation and answered questions. After ranking, the commission voted unanimously to appoint Angela Fisher and Luke Apfeld (terms begin Jan. 22, 2026). The commission also voted unanimously to add David Liu and Andy McCoy to an alternate list for future vacancies.
• Local Policy Lab Presentation – Democracy Dollars Outreach Plan: Laura Wood, Anna Corning, and Peter Zond presented a comprehensive draft outreach plan for the Democracy Dollars program, anticipated for 2028. Key recommendations included: centering low‑income residents, communities of color, immigrant/LEP communities, and young voters; using a phased approach (2026–2028) with foundation building, pilot development, and full launch; relying on compensated, community‑based organizations and ambassadors; and establishing an internal city working group. The report provides a menu of outreach tactics ranked by impact and cost. Commissioners praised the report and discussed funding constraints ($350K operations + $700K startup per Measure W), the need for performance metrics, and the importance of cross‑departmental coordination.
• Case Closure Plan (Item 7A): Enforcement Chief Ackerman presented case PEC‑19‑12, opened in 2019 regarding 2016 allegations. The respondent died in 2024, and staff recommended closure with no action. The commission unanimously approved closure.
• Enforcement Program Report (Item 9): Ackerman reported progress: the staff‑to‑complaint ratio improved from 1:76 to 1:33 (compared to 1:9 in SF/LA, 1:14 in SD). In 2025, more cases were closed than opened. An update was provided on the Dabney fine collection (still outstanding; may go to collections) and the Shaft cases (all individual fines collected; committee‑level fines not pursued). Ackerman noted that the focus on clearing the backlog has delayed new investigations, but she plans to split staff in 2026 to handle both. Form 700 enforcement continues for 2023–2024 filings. In response to questions, Ackerman discussed challenges of managing frivolous complaints and the need for new systems.
• Executive Director Report (Item 10): Director Doran highlighted: (1) the promotion of Ethics Analyst Killings to Analyst III; (2) improvements in campaign filing timeliness (90% on time; average lateness dropped from 69 to 32 days) and lobbyist filing timeliness (93% on time); (3) resolution of the prior year’s public records request mediations; (4) an overview of upcoming commission actions and mandatory activities through 2026. Commissioners appreciated the new quarterly activity chart and requested continued inclusion.
• Subcommittees and Commissioner Assignments (Item 11): Chair Upton announced plans to form two ad hoc subcommittees in March 2026: one on Transparency (to review past transparency reports, engage IT, consider Sunshine Act improvements) and one on Charter Task Force (to provide input on charter reform, salary setting, and build on prior proposals). A discussion on Brown Act compliance ensued, with City Attorney’s representative Mr. Luby confirming that PEC’s ad hoc subcommittee practices are legal (temporary, advisory, commissioner‑only members). Commissioners expressed interest and discussed timing.

Key Outcomes

• November and December 2025 minutes approved (5‑1 and 4‑2 votes).
• Chair and Vice Chair elected: Francis Upton (Chair) and Jean Talak (Vice Chair) for 2026; terms begin Jan. 22.
• New commissioners appointed: Angela Fisher and Luke Apfeld appointed to the PEC (unanimous vote); added to alternate list: David Liu and Andy McCoy.
• Enforcement case closed: PEC‑19‑12 closed due to respondent’s death (unanimous).
• Democracy Dollars outreach plan received with thanks; the commission will review the report and continue discussions.
• Enforcement and director reports accepted as informational; further updates expected at future meetings.
• Subcommittees announced: Transparency and Charter Task Force ad hoc subcommittees will be formed in March 2026. Commissioners interested in the charter subcommittee identified.
• Legal guidance clarified: Ad hoc subcommittee practices comply with the Brown Act; written records (purpose, minutes, termination) are maintained for transparency.