Todd Lang brings three years of litigation experience for the Citizens Clean Elections Commission to his new job as the agency’s executive director.

Mr. Lang, chief counsel for the consumer litigation unit at the Attorney General’s Office, sees his role as assisting the commission in implementing the Clean Elections Act “as effectively and fairly as possible.”

“I have enjoyed three years as an assistant attorney general litigating on behalf of the Clean Elections Commission,” Mr. Lang said. “I have developed a deep understanding of the law, how it works and the constitutional principles behind it.”

Mr. Lang fills the post that was held by Colleen Connor, who resigned June 17, and then by Deputy Director Eric Gorsegner, who left the agency July 22.

“When this position opened up, I saw it as an opportunity to further my work with the Clean Elections Commission,” Mr. Lang said. “I support the act and will do my part to make it work. I believe in anything that increases participation in terms of the number of candidates and opportunities for candidates and elected officials to meet and interact with constituents. The beauty of the $5 contribution is that it encourages that interaction.”

Candidates who intend to run publicly funded campaigns must obtain a certain number of $5 contributions from voters to qualify.

Lang: Law Can Be Improved

Asked if he believes the act has diminished the influence of special interests, Mr. Lang said, “It depends on who you talk to. Critics say it does not, proponents say it does. It ultimately comes down to the viewpoint of voters in a particular district.”

Even so, he believes the law can be improved. For example, he questions a provision that requires reports to be filed by a nonparticipating candidate who is not opposed by participating candidate.

“It would be nice to get rid of that requirement,” he said. “I’m open to suggestions from those who support or oppose the law to make it better for everyone.”

The commission members, who interviewed five finalists earlier this month, hired Mr. Lang, who will begin his new job Sept. 8. He said he sought the position “because it is something I care about,” and not because of a slight salary increase he will receive. “My current job is fantastic.”

Mr. Lang spent 2003-2004 as a visiting clinical professor at the Arizona State University School of Law. Prior to working as an election law attorney for the Clean Elections Commission, he spent the first seven years of his legal career as a legal services lawyer, litigating against slumlords and on behalf of victims of consumer fraud.

Mr. Lang serves on the board of directors of Community Legal Services, and has taught several continuing legal education programs on consumer finance fraud, landlord/tenant law, and election law.

He graduated from the Cornell University College of Law in 1993. —