Meet the candidates operating for San Diego Metropolis Lawyer within the 2024 Major Election

The place for San Diego Metropolis Lawyer is up for grabs in 2024 after present Metropolis Lawyer Mara Elliott phrases out after eight years in workplace.

Here is what San Diego voters ought to know concerning the Metropolis Lawyer’s workplace earlier than the California Major Election on March 5, 2024.

What does the San Diego Metropolis Lawyer do?

The town lawyer is the authorized adviser for all metropolis departments, together with the town council and the mayor. The one who holds this position is an lawyer and their division is the authorized arm for the town. The town lawyer prosecutes or defends civil lawsuits involving the town and prosecutes prison misdemeanors and infractions.

Who’s operating for San Diego Metropolis Lawyer in 2024?

Two Democrats are operating for the place. Heather Ferbert is the chief deputy metropolis lawyer and has labored within the San Diego Metropolis Lawyer’s workplace for a decade.

Her opponent, Brian Maienschein, has served as a California State Assemblymember for 12 years and was a San Diego Metropolis Council earlier than that.

California legislation mandates the highest two finishers of the March Major face off in a runoff in the course of the Basic Election, even when one candidate will get greater than 50 p.c of the vote. So the 2 candidates will meet once more in November 2024.

What are the highest priorities of the candidates for San Diego Metropolis Lawyer?

The candidates are members of the identical social gathering, however have differing resumes and points they wish to deal with. Here is the place they stand.

Ferbert mentioned her emphasis is on housing, notably preserving housing that already exists. She additionally expressed her dedication to sustaining independence from political affect if elected.

Maienschein mentioned gun violence, reproductive rights and public security have his consideration.

Each candidates oppose a proposed poll measure that will divide the tasks of the Metropolis Lawyer workplace.

The proposed poll measure would create two separate officers to deal with metropolis lawyer duties: one for dealing with prosecutions of prison misdemeanors on behalf of the town and one other to take care of civil litigation and supply authorized recommendation to the town council and mayor.

Who’re the candidates for San Diego Metropolis Lawyer endorsed by?

Ferbert is endorsed by outgoing metropolis lawyer Mara Elliott and by the Deputy Metropolis Attorneys Affiliation of San Diego.

“I feel voters would need an lawyer in workplace who’s been doing this work each single day, identical to they’d need a pilot who does this on daily basis to fly them throughout the nation,” mentioned Ferbert. “I do not suppose a shakeup could be what’s proper for the voters. We actually want an impartial metropolis lawyer who can proceed in that impartial position.”

Maienschein is endorsed by Mayor Todd Gloria and the San Diego County Democratic Get together.

“I carry a recent perspective and a few independence and being an outsider as a part of being part of what has been the identical previous system that we have seen in place within the metropolis of San Diego,” mentioned Maienschein, who mentioned he is been a lawyer for 30 years, however has not been training whereas in Sacramento in order to keep away from a battle of curiosity. “I am not concerned in in what sort of the shenanigans which are happening there now. And so I feel having that recent, impartial voice goes to be crucial.”