In December 2024, several City officials – including seven staff members from the Board of Ethics – attended the annual Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) conference. This year’s event took place in Los Angeles and marked the 50th anniversary of COGEL’s founding. As the premier gathering for regulators and stakeholders involved in government ethics, campaign finance, lobbying, freedom of information, and election administration, the conference provided a valuable opportunity for in-depth discussions on the latest trends and challenges in these fields.

The 2024 conference was particularly notable as several current and former Board of Ethics staff members played key roles by taking on leadership positions and participating in educational panels on a range of critical topics. Here’s a look at the contributions the Board of Ethics made to this year’s event:

Staff Participation Highlights

• Jordana Greenwald, General Counsel and Dani Garner Wright, Chief Integrity Officer (former BOE Director of Training and Outreach)
  Jordana was a panelist on an ethics session moderated by Dani titled Work It! Applying Pre, Post, and Concurrent Employment Requirements to Today’s Workplaces. The session explored important questions surrounding the employment limitations of public officials, including when and how these officials can hold multiple jobs or transition from public service to the private sector.
• Tom Klemm, Senior Staff Attorney
  Tom moderated a session on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) titled Post It! Like It! Share It! Social Media Use & Transparency. The session focused on the increasing intersection between social media and public records, addressing whether social media posts qualify as public records, how they should be retained, and whether public business conducted on social media platforms must be disclosed.
• Richard Barzaga, Senior Staff Attorney
  Richard served as a panelist on the enforcement session titled The Role of Witnesses, Documents, and Planning in Successfully Navigating Investigatory Hurdles. This session provided nuanced insight into the challenges of gathering evidence and managing investigations in the context of ethics and transparency.
• Bryan McHale, Director of Compliance and Administration
  Bryan participated in a multi-disciplinary session titled Data to Decisions: Enhancing Transparency and Insight through Government Dashboards. The panel discussed the innovative ways government agencies are using dashboards to present disclosure information to the public and improve transparency. Bryan is also currently serving a term as Treasurer on COGEL’s Board of Directors.

Other Notable Speakers

Tianna Kalogerakis, the City’s Law Department Director of Professional Development, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), was a panelist on a session titled Lights, Camera, Ethics: Navigating DEI & Enriching Ethics Commissions which explored how DEI principles can enrich government ethics and integrity groups.

The conference also featured keynote addresses from notable speakers, including John Dean, former White House Counsel during the Watergate scandal; California Secretary of State Shirley Weber; Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass; and Professor Richard Hasen.

Looking Ahead to 2025

The 2024 COGEL conference was an exceptional event that showcased the dedication and expertise of professionals across the government ethics sector and regulated community. The Board of Ethics is proud of their team’s contributions and looks forward to continuing their efforts through ongoing education, dialogue, and collaboration at next year’s conference in Atlanta.