Help shape accountable government! The Public Ethics Commission seeks community members with a passion for public service to help influence policy toward greater fairness, openness, honesty, and integrity.
The Commission acts as a watchdog to safeguard compliance with government ethics, campaign finance, lobbying, and transparency laws.
The Commission is a seven-member board of volunteer Oakland residents. Three members are appointed respectively by the Mayor, City Attorney, and City Auditor, subject to veto by the City Council. Four members are recruited and selected by the Commission itself.
Now accepting applications until October 30, 2026.
How to Become a Commissioner
New Commissioner appointments occur in January every year. Applications for vacancies are announced in the summer.
- To be considered, applicants must submit a complete application and attend one Commission meeting—either in person or via Zoom—before January 2027.
Semi-finalists will be invited to interview with a subcommittee. Finalists will then advance to meet with the full Commission at a publicly noticed meeting. This process results in a ranked list of finalists.
Commissioner Requirements
A Commission member must be an Oakland resident and registered to vote in Oakland. Commissioners also:
- Serve a three-year term and may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
- Typically volunteer five to ten hours per month and receive no compensation.
- Participate in monthly Commission meetings and occasional subcommittee meetings.
- Provide guidance to staff in carrying out the Commission’s work.
- Educate residents and City staff on ethics-related issues.
- Conduct investigations, audits, and public hearings.
- Make final decisions on enforcement matters.
- Serve as a neutral judge in cases requiring an administrative hearing.
- Impose fines and penalties as part of enforcement activities.
Desired Skills and Abilities
Commissioners should represent a variety of backgrounds and professions so that the Commission, as a whole, provides a well-rounded perspective on Oakland City government, law, community-building and engagement, leadership, program administration, enforcement, and policies related to campaign finance, ethics and transparency. Specifically, a Commissioner should be able to do the following:
- Read, analyze, and understand written information and make decisions based on the information;
- Listen to public input, assess community needs, and make decisions about how to best accomplish the Commission's goals;
- Understand the context in which the Commission operates within City government and the broader community;
- Communicate orally during a public, televised meeting;
- Collaborate effectively with other Commissioners, the public, City officials, and staff;
- Interpret rules, laws and policies and objectively apply a rule to a particular set of facts;
- Identify personal conflicts of interest or other factors that could lead to actual or perceived improper influence;
- Serve with fairness, openness, honesty, and integrity;
- Complete a Form 700 - Statement of Economic Interests annually, disclosing information such as one's financial interests in investments, property, income, and gifts;
- Adhere to all Commission-related laws and policies, including but not limited to the Oakland City Charter, Oakland Government Ethics Act, Oakland Sunshine Ordinance, Commission Complaint Procedures, and Commission Operations Policies (by-laws).
Who is not eligible to serve as a Commissioner?
Under the City Charter, a person may not be appointed to the Commission if, during the two years before their appointment, they were any of the following:
- A City of Oakland elected official or Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) elected official.
- A spouse, registered domestic partner, parent, sibling, or child of an Oakland or OUSD elected official.
- An employee of an Oakland or OUSD elected official.
- A candidate for an Oakland or OUSD elected office.
- An employee of, or paid consultant to, a candidate running for an Oakland or OUSD elected office, or a campaign committee controlled by a such a candidate.
- An officer or paid employee of a political party, including a state or county political party.
- A person who has contributed more than $1,200 in the aggregate to one or more candidates for an Oakland or OUSD elected office, or a campaign committee controlled by such a candidate, or to a campaign committee that supported or opposed Oakland/OUSD candidates.
- A registered Oakland lobbyist, or someone who was required to register.
What restrictions apply to Commissioners?
Can a Commissioner work for the City of Oakland or as a City contractor?
No. A Commissioner may not be a City employee or City contractor while serving on the Commission. This restriction continues for one year after their Commission service ends.
Can a Commissioner work for or receive gifts or compensation from a City or OUSD elected official?
No. While serving on the Commission, a Commissioner may not be employed by or receive gifts or compensation from a City of Oakland or Oakland Unified School District elected official.
Can a Commissioner be a City lobbyist or have ties to a registered City lobbyist?
No. A Commissioner may not be a registered City lobbyist, be required to register as a City lobbyist, or be employed by or receive gifts or compensation from a registered City lobbyist. This restriction applies while serving on the Commission and for one year after their Commission service ends.
Can a Commissioner run for elected office?
Not while serving on the Commission. A Commissioner may not run for elected office in a jurisdiction whose geographic boundaries overlap with Oakland.
Can a Commissioner participate in a City or OUSD election campaign?
Generally, no. While serving on the Commission, a Commissioner may not endorse, support, oppose, contribute to, volunteer for, or work on behalf of a candidate or ballot measure in a City of Oakland or OUSD election, except as otherwise specified.