Ex-Common Cause Director Named City’s Ethics Chief : Politics: Walter Zelman is a longtime critic of special interest groups’ influence on government.

Walter A. Zelman, former director of California Common Cause and a longtime advocate of campaign reform, was named Los Angeles’ first ethics chief on Friday, a post created by voters last year in the aftermath of the scandal surrounding Mayor Tom Bradley’s personal finances.

Zelman, 47, was appointed to his post by the five-member Ethics Commission, an independent body responsible for enforcing laws relating to campaign fund raising and conflicts of interest among city officials.

“I have spent many years advocating the kinds of laws we now have in Los Angeles,” Zelman said. “As a community, we have an opportunity to send a message to other cities and to other states that this is the way government can and ought to be run.”

Zelman was the executive director of California Common Cause for 12 years, until leaving the post to run unsuccessfully for state insurance commissioner last year. He was a leading critic of the power wielded by special interests in state government.

Zelman’s new post in Los Angeles was created by Proposition H, Los Angeles’ ethics-reform package approved by the voters in November. It has been described by its backers as the most comprehensive ethics legislation in the country.

Under the law, elected officials are prohibited from accepting outside employment or lobbying for one year after leaving office.

Zelman and the Ethics Commission will be responsible for developing detailed new ethics regulations and educating city officials about potential conflicts of interest. The commission also has subpoena power and can levy fines of up to $5,000 per violation.

The implementation of one key element in the legislation--public financing of city elections--was blocked by a state Court of Appeal last year. The case is pending.

Zelman said public financing of elections and campaign spending limits are crucial to the success of the new ethics law.

“When you tell a council member to raise $500,000 (for a campaign) and they know there’s only one place (special interests) to get $500,000, then you’re asking for trouble,” he said.

Ethics Commissioner Edwin O. Guthman said Zelman was the unanimous choice of the five-member panel. Commission Vice President Cynthia Ann Telles described Zelman as uniquely qualified for the position.

“We were throughly impressed with Mr. Zelman’s demonstrated commitment, substantive knowledge and extensive experience in the area of ethics and political reform,” Telles said.

Zelman, who is working on the transition team of Insurance Commissioner-elect John Garamendi, will officially assume his city job in three weeks. He is expected to receive an annual salary of $90,000, commission members said.

Several members of the City Council praised the selection of Zelman, who formerly served as a Bradley appointee to the Los Angeles Department of Power and Water Commission.

“He combines an unquestioned credential as a leading reformer in the area of ethics as well as experience working within city government,” said Councilman Michael Woo, who was among the most vigorous proponents of ethics reform.

Councilwoman Gloria Molina added: “I think it’s an excellent choice.”

As director of Common Cause, Zelman attacked City Councilman Hal Bernson in 1989, charging that Bernson had violated state and local campaign fund-raising laws.

Bernson said Friday that he was reluctant to comment on Zelman’s appointment. “I will make my judgment of Mr. Zelman strictly based on his performance of his job as ethics commissioner,” Bernson said.

Last year, Zelman finished fourth in the race for state insurance commissioner, winning 8% of the vote in the Democratic primary.