New York's new watchdog overseeing and regulating ethics in government is going to be led by the last executive director of the commission's defunct predecessor agency. 

The state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government has appointed Sanford Berland to be be its first executive director. Berland, an attorney, was the final executive director of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, which disbanded this summer. 

Berland had overseen the former ethics commission since April 2021 as state lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul were considering how to replace it amid years of criticism the old panel's structure made it too cozy with the elected officials it was charged with regulator and overseeing. 

Berland's appointment was unanimous in a vote of the new commission's seven sitting members. 

“The commission conducted a careful review of Sandy Berland’s work as he ably oversaw the transition between the former ethics oversight body and the launch of this Commission,” said the commission’s interim chair, Frederick A. Davie. “He has demonstrated his knowledge and dedication to our charge of providing greater transparency and accountability to help restore New Yorkers’ trust in their government.”

The new Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government is appointed by the governor and state lawmakers, though unlike its predecessor will also include appointees of the state comptroller and attorney general. Its members also must be vetted and final approval by a group of 15 law school deans in New York. 

The watchdog entity will have a budget of $7.5 million and a full-time staff of more than 50 people. At full strength, it will have 11 commissioners on its board. 

“I thank the commissioners for their vote of confidence and for enabling me to continue serving as executive director of this body as it embarks on a new era of independence and oversight on behalf of all New Yorkers,” Berland said. “I am fully committed to moving forward in accord with the new statutory mandate that established this Commission and which, I believe, will set the state on a course of more accountable and ethical government.”