5 Ethics Commission Members Win Approval

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved five appointees who will serve on the new city Ethics Commission, which was established as part of a package of political reforms approved by voters in June.

The commission will act as an independent body enforcing new and existing laws regulating conflict of interest and campaign fund-raising. It has the power to subpoena and to levy fines of up to $5,000 per violation.

The commissioners, approved on an 11-0 vote, are Dennis Curtis, a USC law professor; Cynthia Ann Telles, a UCLA psychiatry professor; Edwin Guthman, a USC journalism instructor and Pultizer Prize winner; Alice Walker Duff, an expert in child development and social policy, and Treesa Way Drury, a senior citizens advocate.

The panel members were appointed by Mayor Tom Bradley, who had two appointments, Council President John Ferraro, City Atty. James K. Hahn and City Controller Rick Tuttle.