The Ethics Review Commission has dismissed a complaint alleging that Otto Swingler, a self-described “concerned citizen” who made a GoFundMe page in support of Proposition B, violated campaign finance law. The commission ruled Wednesday that Swingler, who had intended to use money to buy billboard space for pro-Prop B ads, did not make direct campaign […]
City of Austin Ethics Review Commission
The Ethics Review Commission is charged with review of, among other issues, ethics complaints leveled against City of Austin boards and commission members. They meet quarterly.
Posted inCity Hall
Complaint against Harper-Madison ruled out of ethics commission’s jurisdiction
Ethics violations against Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper-Madison were found to be outside the purview of the city’s Ethics Review Commission last week, marking the second time in two months the commission has failed to move forward with a complaint brought by resident Olivia Overturf. Overturf’s new complaint was filed May 17, less than a […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Settlement leads to dismissal of Ethics Review case against Save Austin Now
The Ethics Review Commission voted last week to dismiss the complaint pursued for eight months against the Save Austin Now nonprofit, after the initial complainant withdrew his charge as part of a settlement agreement he reached with the group. Political consultant Mark Littlefield informed the commission that he had withdrawn the complaint in accordance with […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ethics commissioners dismiss complaint against Harper-Madison
An ethics complaint against Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper-Madison was automatically dismissed Wednesday, May 12, after the Ethics Review Commission failed to reach a majority six votes on a motion to postpone or a separate motion to dismiss. The latter motion included an opportunity for the complainant, Olivia Overturf, to resubmit an amended complaint by […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Save Austin Now works ethics commissioners’ last nerve
The nonprofit that launched the successful campaign to recriminalize behavior related to homelessness in the May 1 election has again tried the patience of the Ethics Review Commission, which on Wednesday voted to postpone a final hearing on a complaint filed against the group last October. Unlike previous times, however, Save Austin Now, which holds […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ethics commissioners say nonprofit acted in ‘bad faith’
The Ethics Review Commission expressed frustration Wednesday that nonprofit Save Austin Now has not yet brought evidence to refute an ethics complaint filed against it, delaying a final hearing that was set for the meeting. Counsel for the nonprofit said they needed more time to provide the evidence that they had promised was coming at […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Voices of Austin censured for breaking campaign finance laws
The nonprofit Voices of Austin violated city law by campaigning against Proposition A last year, the Ethics Review Commission ruled on March 10. The commission voted to censure the organization, the most severe rebuke at its disposal. Nonprofits are not allowed to advocate for or against ballot measures or political candidates, but Voices of Austin […]
Posted inElections
Ethics complaint against Voices of Austin will get final hearing
A complaint that nonprofit Voices of Austin violated city code by campaigning against Proposition A will move to a final hearing, the Ethics Review Commission decided. The preliminary hearing at Wednesday’s meeting was a redo of the first preliminary hearing, which was cut short due to a problem with the city’s virtual meeting software. Political […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Commission hears preview of complaint against Voices of Austin in truncated meeting
An audio problem during last week’s meeting of the Ethics Review Commission cut short what was promising to be a contentious hearing for a complaint against a local nonprofit. Political consultant Mark Littlefield, who also brought a complaint against Save Austin Now, alleged that Voices of Austin, a 501(c)(4) organization, sent a political mailer that […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Ethics commissioners request more evidence in complaint against Save Austin Now
Save Austin Now, the nonprofit that is gathering signatures to reinstate the city’s ban on homeless camping, faced an ethics complaint at last week’s Ethics Review Commission meeting. The complaint, brought by political consultant Mark Littlefield, alleges that the organization overstepped the bounds of its 501(c)(4) status by engaging in unauthorized political activity and failing […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Commission reprimands PAC that opposed Prop A
The city’s Ethics Review Commission voted unanimously last week to send a letter of reprimand to one of the political action committees that opposed Proposition A on the Nov. 3 ballot. Local Democratic consultant Mark Littlefield filed 12 separate complaints against Our Mobility Our Future PAC, alleging violations of the city’s campaign finance ordinance. Jo […]
Posted inCity Hall
Split commission rejects complaint against Garza
The ethics complaint against Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza will not move forward to a final hearing after receiving the thumbs-up from just five members of the city’s Ethics Review Commission. A majority of the commission, or six members, was needed to take the complaint to a final hearing on whether she violated city ethics […]