School panel bans some campaign fundraising
The San Francisco school board voted to bar board members and the superintendent from directly soliciting campaign donations from district employees, a policy aimed at preventing undue influence over subordinates.
The unanimous decision Tuesday night came after The Chronicle reported that board member Sandra Lee Fewer had earlier this year solicited contributions from at least four district workers — including recently appointed interim Superintendent Myong Leigh — as she runs for city supervisor in District One in the November election.
A San Francisco law prohibits city officers and employees from asking other city officers and employees for campaign donations. But there are conflicting opinions on whether that law applies to school district officials, and Fewer has said she did nothing wrong.
Peter Keane, a member of the Ethics Commission, said he believes the city law applies to school board members. But Jessica Blome, deputy director of enforcement and legal affairs at the commission, said in an informal advice letter to Fewer’s campaign that it appears the law doesn’t apply to the board. The city attorney is now reviewing the issue.
District Attorney George Gascón ran afoul of the city law while running for reelection in 2014, when he took part in a staff fundraiser at a bar across from the Hall of Justice. He agreed to pay $4,000 after an Ethics Commission investigation.
The school board has been updating dozens of district policies in recent months to align them with state and local laws, including San Francisco’s government Code of Conduct. The new policy regarding campaign contributions was among several updated Tuesday, and was in the works before The Chronicle’s report on Fewer’s actions.
While a violation of the city’s Code of Conduct can result in an investigation by the Ethics Commission and possible fines, the maximum consequence of a school board member violating a district policy is censure, or formal admonishment, district officials said.
Fewer said prior to Tuesday’s vote that it was important to update the district policy regarding board conduct, whether the city law against solicitation applies to school leaders or not.
“This is really important for (district employees) to know their rights and what people can ask of them,” she said. “In this circumstance, it’s (out of ) an abundance of caution, and it’s the right thing to do.”
Fewer, one of 10 candidates for supervisor in the Richmond District, acknowledged last week that she had asked at least two district employees to participate in an April 21 fundraising dinner, which cost at least $100 to attend. Two other district workers said she also asked them to attend.
More than 20 district administrators, principals and teachers participated in the fundraiser, contributing nearly $4,000 to Fewer’s campaign. Most did not respond to requests asking how they heard about the event. Fewer said that she also sent an invitation for the fundraiser to 10,000 people through a mass email and that 100 total supporters attended the event.
“I am incredibly grateful to the SFUSD employees who have chosen, on their own accord and their own time, to support my campaign,” Fewer said in a statement released prior to Tuesday’s board meeting.