Former LA Councilmember Kevin de León Faces $18,750 Ethics Fine

Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León is facing an $18,750 ethics fine for voting on city council decisions in which he had a financial interest and for failing to disclose income, according to a report from the enforcement division of the L.A. City Ethics Commission.

De León has admitted to four counts of “making or participating in a decision in which a financial interest is held” and one count of failing to disclose income, according to the commission’s enforcement report released on Friday.

For Inglewood residents who follow regional governance issues, the case underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in local government. Like Los Angeles, Inglewood has its own ethics guidelines for elected officials regarding conflicts of interest and financial disclosures.

“Public trust depends on elected officials avoiding even the appearance of conflicts of interest,” said Michael Washington, a political science professor at West Los Angeles College who studies local governance in South LA communities. “Ethics rules exist in every city to ensure officials are voting in the public interest, not their personal interest.”

The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, established in 1990, investigates and enforces violations of government ethics laws. In Inglewood, similar oversight is provided through the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) at the state level, which handles complaints about local elected officials’ potential conflicts of interest.

Inglewood City Councilmembers, like their counterparts in Los Angeles, are required to file annual Statements of Economic Interests (Form 700) disclosing their financial interests and recuse themselves from voting on matters where they have financial conflicts.

“Transparency requirements are similar across municipalities,” explained Marcus Johnson, a former Inglewood city attorney now in private practice. “All elected officials in California must disclose certain financial interests and recuse themselves from decisions where they have a material financial stake.”

De León, who previously represented District 14 on the Los Angeles City Council, was already a controversial figure after being involved in the 2022 leaked audio scandal that resulted in City Council President Nury Martinez’s resignation. He remained in office despite calls for his resignation at that time.

The specific details of de León’s ethics violations were not fully disclosed in the initial report, but the Ethics Commission is expected to vote on the proposed fine at its meeting next month.

Cases like this one serve as reminders of the ethical standards that govern all elected officials in the region, including those serving Inglewood residents. The public can file complaints with the appropriate ethics bodies if they suspect violations by their elected representatives.

For Inglewood residents wishing to learn more about ethics guidelines for local officials or to review financial disclosure forms, documents are available through the Inglewood City Clerk’s office or online through the California Fair Political Practices Commission website.

This story draws on reporting from the Los Angeles Times with additional context for Inglewood readers.