Committee Backs Quentin Kopp's Return to Government

Quentin Kopp, one of San Francisco's most influential political figures in the last half-century, is one step closer to returning to a job in government.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Thursday approved Kopp's appointment to the city's Ethics Commission.

One of the reasons the retired judge, former state senator and San Francisco supervisor wants the position is because of "good citizenship, which I believe in, because I was brought up by parents who believed in good citizenship and participation in civic affairs and public responsibilities."

The 87-year-old Kopp, who has built a reputation as a blunt-talking curmudgeon, was responsible for several pieces of legislation aimed at increasing transparency in government and campaign finance, accomplishments he emphasized during the hearing.

As supervisor, Kopp authored campaign donation regulations for San Francisco. In the state Senate, he was among those who pushed for a ballot initiative that was eventually approved by voters to limit donations for campaigns statewide. That initiative, Proposition 73, was effectively killed by a federal judge's ruling years later.

Kopp also introduced legislation that closed loopholes in the Brown Act, which requires local agency meetings to be held in public, and revisions to the state's Public Records Act.

Supervisor Katy Tang, the committee's chair, pointed out that if Kopp sits on the San Francisco Ethics Commission he might have to interpret laws he actually wrote.

Supervisor Eric Mar, who is on the committee, expressed concerns about Kopp's previous positions opposing public financing of campaigns.

"San Francisco's small donor public matching funds program is really at the heart of reducing the influence of money in politics," Mar said.

The commission is tasked with enforcing the city's program and Kopp said he would take that responsibility seriously. "Public financing is the law of San Francisco," Kopp emphasized.

Kopp then outlined his thoughts on public financing. "Personally, I would abhor the use of money I pay government in taxes ...  to be used by, let's take an extreme example, a David Duke-type of candidate."

But San Francisco's public financing ordinance requires candidates to be "serious," Kopp said. Candidates who get those public funds have to raise money on their own.

"That certainly reduces the possibility of it being used by somebody you abhor and resent using your money," Kopp said.

The supervisors' questions were followed by a parade of supporters for Kopp, including Peter Keane, a current member of the Ethics Commission, and Bruce Brugmann, the retired publisher of the Bay Guardian, who praised Kopp during public comment and urged the panel to approve his appointment.

The full Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on his appointment on Sept. 6.