After a year without a city attorney, chula vista attorney voters will decide the next one in a special election this week. The race is between Bart Miesfeld, a private lawyer, and Marco Verdugo, a deputy city attorney in a law firm representing the cities of Coronado and Solana Beach.
Navigating Legal Waters: Your Trusted Chula Vista Attorney
A ballot measure in 2008 made the city attorney an elected position, rather than an appointed one. The argument was that an independent city attorney, selected by the people instead of a mayor and council, could be more likely to fight unethical behavior in municipal hall. But in 2022, the candidate chosen by voters, Simon Silva, died from cancer a few weeks before Election Day. Because elections laws don’t allow his name to be removed from the ballot, a runoff election is now being held.
Miesfeld and Verdugo were the top vote-getters last November, but neither received a majority of votes. Both are Democrats, but they have differing backgrounds and perspectives on the job. Verdugo, a former federal public defender, says his experience safeguarding taxpayer resources and counseling elected officials qualifies him for the post. He cites stopping crime, increasing community policing and ensuring transparency in school board activities as key priorities.
Miesfeld, who was Chula Vista’s city attorney from 2008 to 2010, has endorsements from former mayors and council members and from Democratic county supervisors. He argues that his experience fighting for the rights of children, seniors and the disabled makes him the best choice to defend Chula Vista’s interests in the upcoming election.
