Chula Vista City Attorney Candidate Glen Googins: Restore Trust at City Hall
February 14, 2010 at 5:46 PM
Googins Hopes to Raise the City Attorney Bar Chula Vista—As the 2010 California primary election nears, Chula Vista city candidates are revving up and taking their message straight to the voters. The Chula Vista Civic Association has already hosted two open Board of Directors meeting featuring candidates for City Attorney, City Council, and Mayor.
The February 11th Chula Vista Civic Association Board of Directors meeting opened up in historic prospect with Glen Googins, who if elected will serve as the first-ever elected City Attorney.
In the aftermath of the 2008 vote approving a citizen-driven ballot initiative known as Proposition “Q” which altered the designated the City Attorney post from appointed to elected, Googins, while respectful of his predecessors, identified the need to restore public trust and integrity to the office. “[The City Attorney should] serve as a watchdog, which makes sure the city complies with the law and sees to it that that conflicts of interest are identified.” stated Googins.
Googins also acknowledged the need to bring balance to the needs of the city and its citizens. “The City Attorney needs to be responsive of need to city departments and city residents.” And with the city’s shrinking budget, Googins stands as a firm guardian of taxpayer dollars. “[The City Attorney’s Office] needs to protect against frivolous lawsuits, vetting them vigorously, and sending a message that discourages that kind of behavior.”
When asked why he would be the best candidate, Googins pointed out that it is “…crucially important the [City Attorney] understand the role of city attorney and has professional qualifications.” said Googins. “It’s extremely important that the city attorney be of the community and work for the community. If those are the criteria… municipal law and being of the community, I think I’d be the ideal candidate, developing public and private partnerships.”
Chula Vista Civic Association board members where impressed by Googins' creative approach to adapting to what appears eminent--more budget cuts. Googins' response to expand the City Attorney's internship program is both ideal for saving tax dollars and serves as an investment toward training highly-qualified future city attorney hopefuls as an elected legal post such as this requires a thorough background and understanding of municipal law.
Googins’ top priorities are ambitious, but they are both admirable and precisely what the office needs: “Make it the best city attorney’s office in the state providing good legal advice, holding the city accountable.”
“[I want to] change the culture of the city’s attorney, to a culture of serves with a sense of duty and responsibility, with a connection to the community.” concluded Googins.
Chula Vista Civic Association is a non-partisan, business and community non-profit organization. This report/release is offered to members for educational purposes. All candidates have been invited to participate in the series of Open Session Board of Director meetings featuring City Candidates.
