Tuesday, December 9
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View WednesdayCampaign 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
Cricket Snyder
Chief Compliance Officer, Jefferson County 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 (Moderator)
Chief Deputy Clerk and Recorder, Jefferson County, Colorado
Rebecca Green
Associate Professor of Law & Co-Director, Election Law Program, William & Mary Law School
Liz Wagenseller
Executive Director, Office of Open Records, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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
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
Antoinette Fuoto
Associate, Perkins Coie
Abby Wood
Professor of Law, Political Science and Public Policy, USC Gould School of Law
Independence Under Fire: How to Protect Ethics Commissions from Political Interference in Challenging Times
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 panel will discuss a recent report on trends of threats against ethics commissions. It will also highlight real-world examples of such challenges—and, more importantly, share tested strategies and successful tactics to protect and preserve independent oversight.
Kedric Payne (Moderator)
Vice President, General Counsel, and Senior Director, Ethics, Campaign Legal Center
Rebecca Binston
Executive Director, North Dakota Ethics Commission
Ashley Cooks
Director of the Office of Government Ethics, D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability
Todd Lewis
Legal Counsel, Louisville Ethics Commission
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