Tuesday, December 9
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View WednesdayCivil Integrity: Navigating Ethical Obligations During Unethical Times
Fireside Chat with Tricia Newbold
Tricia Newbold, former U.S. Government career employee for 22 years, and most notably known as the "White House Whistle Blower", will share her experience upholding national security standards during President Trump’s first term (2017-2021). Tricia made national headlines in 2019, when she provided testimony to congress on security concerns happening at the White House. Tricia faced retaliation for her unwillingness to approve security clearances for individuals who failed to meet the Adjudicative Guidelines standard, regardless of their political positions, as well as discrimination regarding her disability. Despite these personal attacks, Tricia upheld her civic duty to protect national security. Don’t miss this in-depth fireside chat with Mark Wasielewski, Ethics Enforcement Officer for the Connecticut Office of State Ethics, as we explore her story beyond the headlines.
About Tricia Newbold
Tricia Newbold has over 25 years of experience in protecting national security, both in the US and Internationally. Tricia worked for 5 Presidential administrations in the White House Security Office. Her service spanned
parties, remaining solely focused on upholding the constitution and protecting national security. Her service covered numerous monumental events, including the events of September 11, 2001; several presidential transitions;
and the Covid-19 pandemic. Tricia's sense of mission was borne from the attacks of September 11, 2001, and it remains the cornerstone of commitment to protect national security with integrity and honor.
About Mark Wasielewski
Mark E. Wasielewski is currently the Ethics Enforcement Officer of the Connecticut Office of State Ethics (OSE) and has worked at the OSE since 2006. He received a B.A. from Tufts University, a M.A. in Economics from Trinity
College, and his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law. In his free time, Mark serves on the Board of the Wethersfield Academy for the Arts.
Independence Under Fire: How to Protect Ethics Commissions from Political Interference
Ethics commission officials understand that independent decision-making—free from political pressure and outside influence—is central to their authority and effectiveness. Unfortunately, that independence is often targeted by those seeking to weaken oversight. Across the country, efforts to erode this autonomy are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated. This timely plenary session will highlight real-world examples of such challenges—and, more importantly, share tested strategies and successful tactics to protect and preserve independent oversight.
Richard Briffault (Moderator)
Joseph P. Chamberlain Professor of Legislation, Columbia Law School
Richard Briffault is the Joseph P. Chamberlain Professor of Legislation at Columbia Law School. His work focuses on state and local government law, the law of the political process, and government ethics. He served as Chair
of the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (2014-2020); was a member of New York’s Moreland Act Commission to Investigate Public Corruption; was the Reporter for the American Law Institute’s Principles of the
Law, Government Ethics (2025); and was the Reporter of the Drafting Committee on Public Meetings During Emergencies of the Uniform Laws Commission. He was a member of or consultant to several New York City and State
commissions, including the State Commission on Local Government Efficiency & Competitiveness, the Temporary Commission on Constitutional Revision, the Real Property Tax Reform Commission, and the New York City Charter
Revision Commission. He was also the Reporter for the Commission on Campaign Finance Reform of The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and principal author of its report, Dollars and Democracy: A Blueprint
for Campaign Finance Reform. Before joining the Columbia faculty, he was assistant counsel to Governor Hugh Carey of New York. He is co-author of the texts State and Local Government Law and The New Preemption Reader,
and author of Balancing Acts: The Reality Behind State Balanced Budget Requirements as well as more than one hundred law review articles.
Rebecca Binstock
Executive Director, North Dakota Ethics Commission
Rebecca Binstock began serving as the Executive Director of the North Dakota Ethics Commission in September 2022. Prior to being in this role, she had the privilege to serve as the pro se law clerk with the United States District
Court for the District of North Dakota and as a litigator in private practice. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and the University of North Dakota School of Law. During her tenure at the Commission, Rebecca
has prioritized sufficient staffing and funding as well as an improved investigation process.
Ashley Cooks
Director of the Office of Government Ethics, D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability
Ashley Cooks is the Director of the Office of Government Ethics at the D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability and she has served at the agency in various roles since 2015. Ms. Cooks manages a team of 17 employees.
The office specializes in providing ethics trainings, advice, and enforcement for 37,000 government employees and regulates the District government’s financial disclosure statement and lobbying programs. Ms. Cooks is a
member of the District of Columbia Bar, the Greater Washington Area Chapter of the National Bar Association, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, and the National Association of Black Compliance & Risk Management
Professionals, Inc. She received her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law.
Todd Lewis
Legal Counsel, Louisville Ethics Commission
Todd Lewis has been the outside legal counsel to the Louisville Metro Ethics Commission for nearly three years. In this capacity, Todd has now twice led successful litigation efforts to safeguard the authority and independence
of the Ethics Commission from overreach by other elements of local government. Todd has led a small firm practice for the last ten years, focusing on administrative and governmental law, criminal trial and appellate advocacy,
and civil litigation.
Kedric Payne
Vice President, General Counsel, and Senior Director, Ethics, Campaign Legal Center
Kedric Payne is Senior Director of Ethics at Campaign Legal Center. Before joining CLC, Mr. Payne served as a Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Energy and as Deputy Chief Counsel of the Office of Congressional
Ethics. Prior to OCE, Mr. Payne practiced political law at Skadden Arps and litigation at Cravath. He also served as a federal law clerk in S.D.N.Y. He earned his undergraduate degree from Yale and his JD from the University
of Pennsylvania Law School.
Campaign Finance Update II: Legislative and Regulatory Update
What are the “hot topics” in campaign finance? Join this popular and engaging session for quick hits and perspective on the key legislative and regulatory changes from the U.S. and Canada. If you are looking to cross check your understanding of the latest news and trends in campaign finance regulation, this is the session for you. We will also share the popular COGEL Campaign Finance Blue Book.
Darrin Lim (Moderator)
Co-Founder, Partner, Politicom Law LLP
Kristin E. Izumi-Nitao
Executive Director, State of Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission
Kenneth Gross
Senior Political Law Counsel and Consultant, Akin Gump
Aaron McKean
Senior Legal Counsel Campaign Finance, Campaign Legal Center
Perilous Procurements: Ethics Guardrails for Public Contracts
Many agencies and local governments have large contracting and procurement operations that have significant risks for all parties. Many issues can arise beyond the classic conflict of interest. How do we ensure the fairness of the procurement? What happens if there's a protest? Can we ever keep confidential information truly confidential? What expectations and responsibilities do the pursuing firms have and what rules should apply to them? Session attendees can look forward to an informative discussion and will leave with a new (or renewed) perspective on how to tackle the challenges associated with public contracting with specific issues highlighted.
Renata Ramsini (Moderator)
Chief Ethics Officer, City of Columbus
Paul Solis
Chief Ethics Officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro)
Delanté Thomas
Chief Ethics Officer, City of Cleveland
Wesley Horne
Assistant Vice Chancellor of Ethics & Compliance, University System of Georgia
Fine Tuning Enforcement: Alternative Sanctions in Ethics Accountability
Fines are a common tool in ethics enforcement—but are they truly effective? This session examines the impact of monetary penalties compared to alternative sanctions in promoting ethical conduct in government. Through case studies and recent high-profile examples, panelists will explore what works, what doesn’t, and how enforcement strategies can better deter misconduct. The discussion will also include innovative approaches to penalty design, enforcement, and collection methods, along with a candid look at whether financial penalties alone are enough—or if it’s time to rethink the toolkit for accountability.
Ashley Cooks (Moderator)
Director of the Office of Government Ethics, D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability
Jeremy Farris
Executive Director, New Mexico State Ethics Commission
Erin Ambrose
Staff Attorney, City of Philadelphia Board of Ethics
Christopher B. Burton
Assistant Chief of Enforcement, California Fair Political Practices Commission
For Better or Worse: FOIA and Election Administration
Transparent elections are fundamental to democracy, but FOIA compliance in the midst of an election can be a serious challenge. This panel will address the intersection of FOIA and election administration at a time when election integrity is increasingly scrutinized. Hear from experts in the field on how agencies can manage the strain while ensuring access and transparency.
Peg Perl
Chief Deputy Clerk and Recorder, Jefferson County, Colorado
Liz Wagenseller
Executive Director, Office of Open Records, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
David Emadi
Executive Director, Georgia State Ethics Commission
Fighting for Resources: Strategies to Strengthen Budgets for Ethics, Disclosures, and Oversight Programs
Oversight programs are essential for transparency and accountability, but too often, they’re underfunded and overlooked. This session explores practical strategies for securing stronger budgets, building political will, and making the case for investment in ethics, disclosure, and enforcement work. Hear from leaders who’ve fought for and won more resources to do the job right.
Christopher Peck (Moderator)
Deputy City Clerk, City of Albuquerque
Jabu Sengova
Ethics Officer, Atlanta City Ethics Office
Lori Weiser
Executive Director, Denver Board of Ethics
Amelia Bierle
Deputy Director, New Mexico State Ethics Commission
Leveling Up: 10 Tips to Revamp and Improve Your Training Program
Is your training program ready for a transformation? Whether you're looking to boost engagement, improve outcomes, or integrate emerging technologies, this session will inspire you to take your training to the next level. Join five COGEL training veterans to share real-world examples and insights to help you assess your current program and adopt new approaches to your training program. If you're ready to reimagine what's possible in training, don't miss this session!
Susan Willeke
Education and Communications Manager, Ohio Ethics Commission
Alison Zinni
Manager of Strategic Education and Engagement, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner of Canada
Stephanie Heffner
Curriculum & Training Coordinator, Oregon Government Ethics Commission
Kate Zinnecker
Training Development and Outreach Coordinator, Illinois Executive Ethics Commission
Delaney Marsco
Director, Ethics, Campaign Legal Center
Limited Limits? Contribution Limits in an Era of Unlimited Political Spending
Contribution limits are a foundational aspect of campaign finance regulation, often viewed as a safeguard against corruption. But how should we think about limits on contributions to candidates and parties when outside spenders, like super PACs, can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections? Come join a conversation between our panel of experts as they discuss the role of contribution limits in this environment, including their efficacy and whether other policies—like coordination rules—are impacting their utility.
Paul S. Ryan (Moderator)
Executive Director, New York City Campaign Finance Board
Erin Chlopak
Senior Director, Campaign Finance, Campaign Legal Center
Abby Wood
Professor of Law, Political Science and Public Policy, USC Gould School of Law
Tips and Strategies for Reaching the Known Unknowns: A Roundtable Discussion on Engaging Unregistered Lobbyists
This roundtable discussion will invite regulators and those engaged in lobbying to discuss ways we can reach those who are not meeting their obligations to register their lobbying activities, whether due to lack of awareness or by choice. Join us to share your successful outreach strategies, learn from colleagues’ experiences, and develop more effective ways to reach this important group. Let’s learn from each other on how best to reach and engage with the unregistered lobbyists that we know are out there.
Paul Solis (Moderator)
Chief Ethics Officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
Stephen Bouey
Campaign Finance and Lobby Program Manager, Colorado Secretary of State's Office
Sean Flynn
General Counsel, Washington Public Disclosure Commission
oline Twiss
Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Registrar, Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists for British Columbia
Annual FOI Legislation and Litigation Update
This session explores legislative and litigation developments from the past year involving freedom of information. It will present a comprehensive report on the issues and allow ample time for the audience to exchange information and insights from their own jurisdictions concerning government access.
Nicholas Smarra
Staff Attorney, Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission
David Goodis
Partner, INQ Law
David Cuillier, Ph.D.
Director, Co-Director, Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project, Brechner Center for Advancement of the First Amendment, University of Florida
Papers, Please: Documentary Proof of Citizenship Laws and Their Impacts on Elections
Bills to require documentary proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in the US are gaining momentum at the state and federal level. The additional documentation required by these laws can place substantial hurdles in the way of ensuring that eligible citizens are able to and in fact register to vote, threatening a fundamental component of American democracy. Attendees will hear from advocates and election officials who have operated with these laws in place and who are looking ahead to the potential impacts of new legislative proposals to learn about implementation challenges for both voters and election officials, as well as strategies for ensuring compliance while also continuing outreach efforts and promoting voter registration.
Jonathan Diaz (Moderator)
Director, Voting Advocacy and Partnerships, Campaign Legal Center
Amanda Lugo
Arizona Senior Campaign Manager, All Voting Is Local
Milton Kidd
Elections Director, Douglas County, Georgia
Training Roundtable
Training panels throughout the conference have focused on getting a training program started, tips to improve your program, and ways to better reach your audiences and get them involved. This Training Roundtable offers a friendly forum to continue those conversations. Was there anything you wanted to be covered in more depth? Do you have lingering questions? What stories of success do you have to share? Let’s collaborate, confer, and connect as only COGEL training professionals can.
Michael O'Connell
Training Specialist, Detroit Board of Ethics
Alexander Kipp
Director of Education & Engagement, New York City Conflicts of Interest Board
Susan Willeke
Education and Communications Manager, Ohio Ethics Commission