Ex-D.A. Garcetti Named to Ethics Panel

Los Angeles City Council President Alex Padilla named former Los Angeles County district attorney Gil Garcetti to the city Ethics Commission on Wednesday, saying that his political and prosecutorial experience would be an asset to the watchdog panel.

Garcetti, who lost a reelection bid for district attorney in 2000, said he looks forward to serving on the panel. As a commissioner, he would weigh the ethics of any action involving Los Angeles’ elected officials, one of whom is his son, Councilman Eric Garcetti.

If confirmed by the council, the elder Garcetti said he would recuse himself from any matter involving his son, who represents Hollywood. Similarly, Eric Garcetti said Tuesday that he will not vote on his father’s confirmation.

“I felt this was one commission I could bring some of my own experience and expertise to and assist the commission in reaching its goals,” Gil Garcetti said. “This is an important time in this nation in terms of issues of ethics and integrity.”

The Ethics Commission was created in 1990 to administer and enforce city campaign finance and ethics laws. It has levied stiff fines against City Council members for violations.

Padilla said he picked Garcetti in part because of Garcetti’s experience as a prosecutor who has enforced laws against elected officials. Padilla said he also thought it would be good to have a former elected official on the panel--something that has never happened before.

“It’s a good perspective to have on the commission,” Padilla said.

Garcetti’s appointment was lauded by Bob Stern, a coauthor of the state Political Reform Act and head of the Center for Governmental Studies.

“It’s a terrific appointment,” Stern said. “He has a lot of experience in this area.”

Garcetti was district attorney from 1992 to 2000. Before that, he was head of the office’s Special Investigations Division, which investigated and prosecuted public employees.

Stern and Ethics Commission Executive Director LeeAnn Pelham said they do not believe that Garcetti would face a legal conflict requiring recusal on an issue involving his son. But Stern said he would hope that Garcetti would not get involved in any enforcement action against the councilman, “although I don’t expect there to be one.”

Stern said he saw no reason for Garcetti to recuse himself from acting on broader ethics rules that apply to all elected officials.

City officials have had trouble in recent weeks finding appointees to the Ethics Commission because of a rule that members cannot become involved in the secession campaigns.

Commissioner David Fleming, an appointee of City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo, stepped down because of the rule, and the Rev. Cecil Murray declined Delgadillo’s appointment so he could fight secession.

Garcetti, who would be the only Latino on the panel if confirmed by the City Council, said he opposes secession but does not plan to take part in the anti-breakup campaign.