Kelli Shope (JD '05 ) participates in Political Reform Act Revision Project

September 14, 2016 -- Pepperdine Law alumna Kelli Shope (JD '05) took part in a public forum convened to discuss potential changes to the California's Political Reform Act (PRA).  The PRA, enacted in 1974, established rigorous ethics guidelines for elected and public officials. Shope is the deputy ethics officer at Metropolitan Water District.

From "Public adds voice to project to modernize California's political ethics law":

“This is a good opportunity to have your voice heard,” said Kelli Shope, deputy ethics officer at Metropolitan Water District, talking about public forums convened to learn about potential changes to California's Political Reform Act (PRA). Shope, along with many of her governmental ethics colleagues joined lawyers, public officials, university staffers and some members of the general public for the second of three public discussion sessions.

The final chance to weigh in on the Political Reform Act Revision Project (PRARP) is this Thursday, August 25. The PRA was enacted in 1974 as a response to the nation's Watergate scandal and is widely known for establishing incredibly rigorous ethics guidelines for elected and public officials in California.

Those who attended the earlier sessions in Sacramento and Los Angeles have lauded the transparency of the process and the drive to include input from a wide range of concerned parties.

“They seem to really be interested in hearing from all of us,” Shope said. A graduate of Pepperdine Law School, Shope has referred to the Political Reform Act nearly every working day of her career, starting with her role on the City Ethics Commission in Los Angeles.

“In our office we're charged with advising officials in compliance. It's good for us to stay on top of the changes that are coming,” Shope said of her decision to attend the public session.