Meet the candidates in the runoff for Chula Vista City Attorney
CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The runoff election to fill the Chula Vista City Attorney seat that was left vacant after the unexpected death of the previously elected candidate is inching closer and voting is already underway.
The runoff comes after Chula Vista voters took to the ballot last November in a special election to fill the role initially won by the late Simon Silva, who died from cancer in 2022 after his name could be removed from the ballots.
Three candidates were vying for the role, however, none received more than the 50% majority that was needed to win outright, prompting the special election to move to a runoff between the top two vote getters: Bart Miesfeld and Marco Verdugo.
Miesfeld earned about 37.87% of the vote in the Nov. 7 special election, while Verdugo garnered about 38.96%. The third candidate, Dan Smith Diaz, came in last with 23.17% of the vote.
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The contest will coincide with the state’s presidential primary election on Mar. 5. Whoever wins in will serve out the remainder of Silva’s term, running through December 2026.
Official ballots for the election, including the Chula Vista City Attorney, were mailed to registered voters in the county ahead of early voting opening up at the Registrar of Voters office in Kearny Mesa on Feb. 5. Drop boxes for voters to send in a completed mail-in ballot are also available.
Starting Feb. 24, select voting centers will open up across the county to expand early voting options. The remainder of the vote centers will open up on Saturday, Mar. 2. More information about how to vote in the Mar. 5 presidential primary can be found at FOX 5/KUSI’s voting guide.
While some may already be filling in their ballots, for those Chula Vista voters who have not yet decided who they will be voting for, below is an introduction to the job of the city’s top lawyer and the two remaining candidates for the role.
What does the City Attorney do?
The Chula Vista City Attorney is the city’s highest ranking lawyer, leading an office that provides legal services and policy guidance to other elected officials. The primary goal of these services is to help the city develop and implement policy, according to the city’s website.
The office works with all the city’s boards and commissions. It also works with each of the Chula Vista municipal departments, including the city clerk’s office, public works, and police and fire departments.
Who are the candidates?
Here are the candidates, listed in alphabetical order:
Bart Miesfeld
Bart Miesfeld is a private practice lawyer, who previously served as an appointment to the position of city attorney from 2008 to 2010. Prior to his tenure as city attorney, he worked in varying roles at the office for nearly two decades.
Background:
Miesfeld joined the City Attorney’s Office in 1998 as a deputy city attorney. Over the two decades he served in the office, he rose through the ranks and was later appointed city attorney in 2008. However, he opted not to run for the position in 2010 after voters in the city decided to change the position to an elected one.
During his tenure with the city attorney’s office, he also worked closely with Silva, saying on his campaign website that he feels “a sense of obligation to continue his bright legacy of providing exceptional services to the city and community of Chula Vista.”
Outside of his work with the city attorney’s office, Miesfeld has taught trial practice, civil procedure and evidence courses as an adjunct Professor at the University of San Diego School of Law. He has also served in leadership positions with various local legal associations.
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On the issues:
In a candidate filing, Miesfeld said he would bring his experience working in the city attorney office to the position to “make Chula Vista safer and more prosperous” by holding city leaders accountable, supporting working families, advancing public safety and serving as an advocate for first responders.
In interviews with other local news organizations, he has also said he hopes to make the office more transparent and public records more accessible.
Endorsements:
According to his campaign website, Miesfeld has received a number of high profile endorsements including: the Chula Vista Police Officers Association; the Association of Chula Vista Employees; Senator Steve Padilla; Mayor John McCann; former Assemblymember Mary Salas; former Supervisor Greg Cox; former Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox; and a slew of former city attorneys for Chula Vista.
Bart Miesfeld appeared on FOX 5 on Feb. 12:
Candidate forum held in Chula Vista ahead of March election
Marco Verdugo
Marco Verdugo is an attorney with the practice Burke, Williams and Sorensen, LLP, a law firm that advises the cities of Coronado and Solana Beach. The lifelong Chula Vista resident previously has worked as a deputy city attorney with the City of San Diego.
Background:
Born to Mexican immigrants, Verdugo lived most of his life in San Diego County, earning both his Bachelor’s and juris doctorate from San Diego universities. During his law school career, he spent some time as an intern for the Chula Vista City Attorney’s Office.
After graduation, he worked as a public agency attorney, advising officials in San Diego, Coronado and Solana Beach. On his campaign website, he says he has worked closely with elected leaders in this cities for drafting and revising various ordinances to proactively meet the community’s needs.
Outside of his legal practice, Verdugo has provided pro bono legal assistance to low-income San Diegans and spent time volunteering at Casa Cornelia to help refugees and asylum seekers.
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On the issues:
In a candidate statement, Verdugo says he would use his legal experience to create a safe, livable and affordable Chula Vista.
He emphasizes that he will work towards gun safety laws for crime prevention, supporting community policing, cutting down on wasteful spending and red tape around affordable housing development, and helping Chula Vista “stop downtown San Diego’s homeless crisis from taking root here.”
He also says he would help craft new city laws that are “just and fair,” serving as an independent voice to ensure that city officials comply with the law.
Endorsements:
According to his campaign website, Verdugo has also garnered a number of key endorsements including: the San Diego County Democratic Party; the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council; Congressman Juan Vargas; San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliot; County Supervisor Nora Vargas; and current Chula Vista City Councilmembers Carolina Chavez, Alonso Gonzalez and Jose Preciado.
Lawyer Dan Smith Diaz, who lost in the Nov. 7 special election for city attorney, also endorsed Verdugo’s candidacy for the role.
Marco Verdugo appeared on FOX 5 on Feb. 12:
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