Three hopefuls weigh in on why they’re the best choice to be Chula Vista’s city attorney
Three people are vying to become city attorney of San Diego County’s second-largest city, a position that opened after the candidate that voters elected last year died before he could take office.
The Chula Vista special election on Nov. 7, which will cost taxpayers about $1.4 million, was called after Simon Silva won the November 2022 election, but died two months prior. His name could not be removed from the ballot.
Jill Maland, an attorney with Lounsbery Ferguson Altona and Peak, LLP, has been serving as the acting city attorney since February.
Whoever is elected will serve through December 2026. The city attorney, a position that earns an annual base pay of more than $231,000, offers legal advice to the City Council, boards and commissions and all city departments as they develop local policies and deliver public services.
These are the candidates:
Bart Miesfeld
Bart Miesfeld
(Courtesy of Bart Miesfeld)
Miesfeld, 65, lives in downtown Chula Vista and is a lawyer in private practice. He served as the city’s last appointed city attorney from 2008 to 2010 after first joining the City attorney’s Office in 1998 as a deputy.
The City attorney’s Office has suffered from a lack of steady leadership over the past year following Silva’s death, he said. So, his first order of business would be “to restore a sense of stability” and to “implement procedures to assure transparency and open government rules are followed to hold city leaders accountable.” He is open to considering strengthening the Ethics Commission by allowing it to hire its own lawyers to investigate complaints and providing it with subpoena power.
Miesfeld, a Democrat, has earned bipartisan endorsements from many who previously served Chula Vista, including former mayors Mary Salas and Cheryl Cox and state Sen. Steve Padilla. His campaign has raised $47,700, the most out of the two other opponents.
Dan Smith Diaz
Dan Smith Diaz
(Courtesy of Dan Smith Diaz)
Smith Diaz, 66, lives in east Chula Vista and operates a criminal defense law firm on Third Avenue. He started practicing law as a federal public defender and previously owned a pedicab company that expanded to four U.S. cities.
He ran against Silva in 2022, but lost by less than 1 percent. Smith Diaz said he is running again to ensure transparency on school boards, that crime rates drop and the police department sees no budget cuts. His first order of business: provide the City Council with legal advice on how best to proceed with the future of Harborside Park, which was closed because of homeless encampments and is now being eyed for housing. Though the decision rests with council members, he said he supports it remaining a park.
A Republican, Smith Diaz is endorsed by the county Republican Party. He has raised $13,700.
Marco Verdugo
Marco Verdugo
(Courtesy of Howard Lipin )
Verdugo, 41, lives in east Chula Vista and is a deputy city attorney with a private firm that represents the cities of Coronado and Solana Beach. He previously served the same role for the city of San Diego.
His priorities: preventing wasteful city spending because “working families are struggling to do more with less right now.” He also wants to strengthen Chula Vista’s use of the red flag law, which prevents people from obtaining a gun if they show signs of being a threat to themselves or others.
Verdugo, a Democrat, earned the county Democratic Party’s endorsement. He is also backed by the four Democratic Chula Vista council members. He has raised $15,200.
The race has turned contentious leading up to Election Day, with candidates raising questions about their opponents’ residencies, backgrounds and campaign contributions.
Miesfeld successfully challenged Verdugo for using “deputy city attorney” as his ballot designation, arguing it would mislead voters into thinking he currently serves that role for Chula Vista. A San Diego judge agreed and ordered him to instead use “city’s attorney.”
Verdugo then questioned Miesfeld about relocating from La Jolla just months before filing to run for office. Miesfeld said that after Silva, whom he hired when he first joined the city, died, he wanted to continue his legacy. Despite previously leaving Chula Vista, he has built strong and longstanding connections with the community after serving locally for 20 years, he said.
Miesfeld had also received hundreds of dollars in contributions from Adriana and Andres Camberos, who are facing business fraud charges. Adriana was granted in 2021 clemency by President Donald Trump for fraud. Andres opened the first cannabis retailer in Chula Vista that same year. Miesfeld said he did not know them nor solicited their donations. He refunded the money after they were indicted.
Election Day is Nov. 7, the last day to vote in person at a vote center or drop off a ballot in the mail or drop box. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a runoff will be held March 5.
attorney-seat”>Source link
Attorneys and law firms can elevate their online presence with professionally written content from SEO Content Writing Services monthly plan. Our team of experienced writers specializes in crafting blog posts, articles, and written content that accurately reflect the expertise and knowledge of our clients in the legal field. With a keen eye for detail and a thorough understanding of legal terminology, we provide high-quality writing that helps our clients stand out from their competition and engage with their target audience. Trust SEO Content Writing Services for one time article writing or monthly written content to handle all of your written content needs and showcase your law firm's expertise.
If you need written content, blog posts, or articles professionally written for your website, we can help. Go HERE to find out more.
or email us here: myseowritingservices@gmail.com
To find out more about our article writing or blog post services, fill out the form, thank you.