Welcome back, Scott! I don't really know how well they have done, but I know that L.A. DA Steve Cooley formed a Public Integrity Unit several years ago, in the aftermath of the LAPD Ramparts scandal; and S.F. DA Kamala Harris formed one in 2004. You might check out those two offices.

Posted by Martha in Del Mar | reply to this comment
August 7, 2008 7:42 am

p.s. -- don't know how I could have forgotten this, but there's also Ronnie Earle, the Travis County TX DA whose Public Integrity Unit prosecuted Tom Delay. Interesting article here: link Under Texas state law, the Travis County (Austin) DA is the single prosecutor given the power to criminally investigate state officials. Earle retired last year, but still could be useful to check out that office.

Posted by Martha in Del Mar | reply to this comment
August 7, 2008 7:44 am

As long as a District Attorney is elected they will be influence by political agendas such as the current DA. It took a lame duck to indict the city council 38 years ago and since then only Ed Miller was free of political influence. Remember only the DA has access to the Grand Jury and the fear of felony prosecution.Fines don't scare people but under oath grand jury testimony and fear of prison does. Dumanis will never allow her political friend to become targets. For the immediate future we are without a true watchdog. It can be done if the will is there. Now it isn't.

Posted by Dave Stutz | reply to this comment
August 7, 2008 9:31 am

Martha references Ronnie Earle, former D.A. in Travis County, Texas (which is the city of Austin) as some kind of shining example of a "public integrity" enforcer. Not! Do your homework, and you will find that even Democrats in Texas were often offended or dismayed at some of the blatantly political prosecutions that Earle would bring. (I lived in Texas before moving to S.D.) Earle was the worst kind of political animal there was. Sorry, Martha, try again...

Posted by Robert E. Lee | reply to this comment
August 7, 2008 9:35 am

Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley investigation of LAX pay-to-play in 2004. City Controller Laura Chick had a exposed the scandal.

Posted by MB | reply to this comment
August 7, 2008 11:12 am

Carol Lam seemed to have the right idea on the federal level. Maybe she should run against Dumanis next election. Carl Rove won't be voting.

Posted by paullazarr | reply to this comment
August 7, 2008 12:09 pm

I really don't have a horse in this race, but I DO think this quote from the Texas Observer article I linked to RE Ronnie Earle is illustrative: "Lawmakers and lobbyists have carped about Earle for years. The Legislature tried cutting his budget, but Earle persisted and won election after election. So this year’s primary is the first chance in a long while for special interests to influence the Public Integrity Unit, making the election one of the most important to watch." Yeah, "even Democrats" are going to be irritated by a watchdog who does his job and keeps getting re-elected over 30 years. The article's reference to Earle's retirement giving "special interests" a chance to influence the Public Integrity Unit speaks volumes.

Posted by Martha in Del Mar | reply to this comment
August 7, 2008 4:20 pm

Mayor Quimby, Springfield USA

Posted by homer | reply to this comment
August 8, 2008 6:27 am

Here is an interesting article that ran in the July issue of Governing magazine about U.S. Attorneys prosecuting public corruption cases. link

Posted by Sean | reply to this comment
August 8, 2008 8:27 am

Martha: Have you ever lived in Texas, or even travelled through there??? (I lived there 15 years before moving to S.D.) Your citing from the Texas Observer as an authoritative source on Ronnie Earle, or any other subject for that matter, is laughable! The Texas Observer is so far left, it makes modern-day Marxists seem moderate and rational by comparison. With all due respect, Martha, please know what you're talking about before posting on here.

Posted by Robert E. Lee | reply to this comment
August 8, 2008 10:08 am

I'll leave it to Scott's excellent reporting skills to assess whether the Travis County DA's Public Integrity Unit is something worth evaluating. I have a whole lot more faith in his ability to fairly assess it than someone who goes by "Robert E. Lee" and is compelled to make personal attacks on a fellow poster who is simply responding to the Blogger's request for ideas.

Posted by Martha in Del Mar | reply to this comment
August 8, 2008 12:02 pm

You're right, Martha, it serves no purpose to go on and on about this topic when someone is just not informed and accurate about said topic. Further research by anyone with any objectivity at all would come to the conclusion that Ronnie Earle was a hyper-political D.A., who would use even the threat of an indictment to cow people into submission. You mentioned the indictment of Tom DeLay, for example. In a scathing opinion, the judge in Texas threw out the main charge against DeLay (conspiracy), and severely admonished Earle for bringing such a lame and baseless case against DeLay. The power given to the Travis County D.A.'s public integrity unit was repeatedly abused by Earle, which makes Travis County a bad example. Finally, my Mom (God rest her soul) would have been surprised to know she doesn't have a son named Robert E. Lee, i.e., me.

Posted by Robert E. Lee | reply to this comment
August 8, 2008 12:30 pm

I nominate Craig Watkins, the DA of Dallas County. link

Posted by Fred Williams | reply to this comment
August 9, 2008 4:30 am

12. Robert E. Lee wrote on August 8, 2008 1:30 PM: Ronnie Earle was a hyper-political D.A., who would use even the threat of an indictment to cow people into submission. .......TOTAL NONSENSE. Bobby, you either are lying about your TX life or you don't have a clue. Earl has indicted more Democrats-his own party-than he has Republicans. Get your facts straight. Youre spouting the typical GOP talking points, all of it baloney.

Posted by Billy Bob Henry | reply to this comment
August 9, 2008 9:41 am

Billy Bob: Reread my comment #4. I said even Democrats were dismayed at Earle's sometimes raw abuse of power. Also remember, an indictment is not a conviction, or even a trial, for that matter. And why would I lie about my "TX life"? My life there is easily verifiable, including my family roots there, my graduation from the University of Houston, etc., etc.

Posted by Robert E. Lee | reply to this comment
August 11, 2008 6:25 am

You don't have to live in Texas to know that DA Earle was a political hack. Of course, everyone but the obtuse understands that Austin is a left-wing island (like most university towns/cities) in a conservative sea.

Posted by josil | reply to this comment
August 12, 2008 11:36 am

• Users may post more than one comment, but should not pose as multiple users. Multiple posts from the same IP address but with a different user name on each will be reviewed to determine whether abuse has occurred.
• Posts with overly personal attacks or unsubstantiated allegations may be edited or deleted.
• Please be patient with the posts -- there may be a delay before they appear on the site -- and make sure to enter the code in the "image verification" box.