Chair Rose Gill Hearn Announces Resignation from the Board
Campaign Finance Board Chair Rose Gill Hearn today announced that she will resign as Chair effective December 31, 2016.
Chair Gill Hearn issued the following statement:
“I regret to announce that I will be retiring as Chair of the Campaign Finance Board at the end of December. My increasingly heavy work schedule no longer permits me to devote the time warranted for the important activities of the Board.
It has been a great honor to serve on the Board for the past three years. I have seen first-hand the stellar reputation for independence and nonpartisanship this institution has earned across the country. New York City is fortunate to have such a program at the center of its political life.
I wish the dedicated and talented members of the CFB’s Board and staff continued success with the important mission of the agency.”
Chair Gill Hearn notified Mayor Bill de Blasio of her intention to resign in a letter dated September 23 in which she wrote of her wish to provide “ample time to find a replacement and ensure a smooth transition.”
According to the City Charter, the mayor will appoint a Chairperson to serve the remainder of the current term, which expires on November 30, 2018. The Board consists of five members, each of whom is appointed to a five-year term. The mayor appoints the Chairperson after consultation with the Speaker of the City Council. The mayor and the Speaker each appoint two of the remaining members. Their respective appointees may not be enrolled in the same political party.
Gill Hearn was appointed Chair on December 30, 2013, by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. During her three-year tenure, Chair Gill Hearn continued the Board’s tradition of independence and nonpartisanship in the many enforcement cases that were decided, in the distribution of nearly $845,000 in public funds payments, and in rules adopted.
“The Board and staff at the CFB are deeply grateful to Chair Gill Hearn for her leadership and service to the City over these three years,” said Amy Loprest, executive director of the Campaign Finance Board. “We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”
Gene Russianoff, senior attorney at the New York Public Interest Research Group, said: “The New York Public Interest Research Group extends our deepest gratitude to outgoing NYC Campaign Finance Board Chair Rose Gill Hearn and salutes her long-standing commitment to vigorous enforcement of municipal ethics laws. Now, Mayor de Blasio and the leadership of the New York City Council will face the challenge of replacing the CFB chair. For a quarter of a century, this leadership position has been the gold standard of good government. The civic community, and indeed all of New York, will be watching closely.”
Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, said: “"The Campaign Finance Board administers one of the largest public matching funds programs in the world. It's a serious job which demands an independent, credible, committed leader with demonstrated expertise. The next chair needs to live up to the high standard set by Rose Gill Hearn."
Dick Dadey, executive director of Citizens Union, said: “With Rose Gill Hearn’s resignation as chair of the Campaign Finance Board, New York City’s admired campaign finance program loses a firm and fair-minded leader. Her background in governmental ethics, corruption prevention, and public sector investigations helped strengthen this vital program that is known for having reduced the influence of money on our local politics. We salute her many contributions and thank her for her years of valuable public service. Though her departure leaves a big void, we are hopeful that Mayor de Blasio will choose a wise successor who will be as impartial and apolitical a leader as the program requires and New Yorkers deserve.”
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