League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Diego County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Proposition B Amends City Charter to Add Good Cause Requirement for Certain Terminations Or Suspensions of Deputy City Attorneys City of San Diego Majority Approval Required Pass: 238,803 / 72.3% Yes votes ...... 91,671 / 27.7% No votes See Also: Index of all Propositions

Arguments For Proposition B

Proposition B protects taxpayers by ensuring the City Attorney's office remains an independent and non-political watchdog. The City Attorney's office should never be used to further an elected official's political agenda. Legal advice should always be based upon the law, not politics. Led by the current City Attorney, Proposition B has broad support because it helps keep our attorneys independent and saves taxpayer money. A 2008 Grand Jury report revealed that 124 of 135 lawyers left the office under the previous City Attorney, taking with them valuable institutional knowledge and experience. After months of detailed investigation, the Grand Jury concluded that the near 100% turnover rate significantly harmed the City and called for reforms. The loss of experienced lawyers also resulted in greater reliance on expensive outside counsel. Those costs skyrocketed annually from $4 million to over $10 million. During the past two years, the office has been rebuilt into a quality law firm. With an emphasis on training, quality control and experience, the reformed City Attorney's office has practiced law, solved problems, won key lawsuits and helped avoid mistakes. Deputy city attorneys now act as watchdogs without risk of losing their jobs. And, with less reliance on outside counsel, those costs have been reduced nearly in half. Proposition B ensures the reformed City Attorney's office will be preserved well into the future. It protects the City and future deputy city attorneys from political pressure, while maintaining quality standards. After a two year probation period, deputy city attorneys can be fired for ethical lapses or poor legal work, but not for telling the truth, speaking up to prevent an illegal act or for giving proper legal opinions. A "YES" vote for Proposition B protects taxpayers by ensuring the City Attorney's office remains an independent and non-political watchdog. JAN GOLDSMITH, City Attorney City of San Diego GEORGE SCHAEFER, President San Diego Deputy City Attorneys Association TODD GLORIA, Councilmember City of San Diego, District Three CARL DeMAlO, Councilmember City of San Diego, District Five (No arguments against Proposition B were submitted)