The Los Angeles Ethics Commission Tuesday announced the unanimous selection of David Tristan to serve as the next executive director of the agency where he has worked for nearly three decades.
“David Tristan has been a key member of the Ethics Commission team for 29 years, and he has demonstrated the excellent judgment and leadership necessary to guide the agency into its next chapter,” Ethics Commission President Melinda Murray said. “We look forward to working with Tristan in his new role with great enthusiasm.”
Tristan has worked for the Ethics Commission since 1991, and during that time he has served in every division within the agency, commission officials said. He was named the Ethics Commission’s deputy executive director in 2011 and has served in that capacity since.
Tristan succeeds Heather Holt, who was hired by the Ethics Commission in 2006 and has served as the executive director since 2011. His appointment will become effective Jan. 18.
Per the Los Angeles City Charter, the Ethics Commission appoints and discharges its own executive director, and the term limit is 10 years. Additionally, the executive director may not hold any other public office, be employed as a lobbyist and cannot participate or contribute to any city during their tenure.
The mayor, the city attorney, the controller, the president and president pro tem of the City Council each appoint one member of the Ethics Commission. Each appointment must be confirmed by a majority of the City Council, and the commissioners must be registered city voters.
The Ethics Commission was created by Los Angeles voters in 1990 to impartially administer and enforce the city’s governmental ethics, campaign financing and lobbying laws.