Anaheim now has an ethics officer to oversee campaign finance laws, conflict of interest rules and a host of other good governance policies in the wake of one of Orange County’s largest corruption scandals that saw the Angel Stadium sale collapse.
City officials publicly introduced former Fair Political Practices Committee Senior Counsel Artin Berjikly during a brief rollout at the start of a short city council meeting Tuesday night.
“I’ve had the distinct pleasure of meeting with you, one and one, and now it’s my great pleasure to introduce myself to all of you and the Community of Anaheim here tonight,” Berjikly told council members.
“My role will be to provide legal counsel and guidance on best ethical practices and to advise on any potential conflicts of interest.”
Before going to the FPPC, which is responsible for enforcing campaign finance and conflict of interest laws, Berjikly was an attorney and senior investigator for the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.
“Anaheim has come a long way and I applaud you on the reforms you have taken in the areas of transparency and disclosure. They are among some of the most advanced in California from my experience,” Berjikly told council members on Tuesday.