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Corporate money used to pay for Janani Ramachandran’s Diwali party last October raises questions about conflicts of interest.

Davina Hurt, director of government ethics, says it’s common for elected officials to sit on the boards of nonprofit organizations, but when an elected official takes on a fundraising roles, it can create problems.

“A business owner might think if I don’t donate, then things may be getting more troubling for me, or I may not get the role I want in the city,” Hurt said. “Even if it’s not the official’s intent, the power imbalance is real.”

Davina Hurt, director, government ethics, quoted by The Oaklandside.