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Politics

Chula Vista Residents To Vote For First Elected City Attorney

The city of Chula Vista's logo at City Hall in this undated photo.
Alison St John / KPBS
The city of Chula Vista's logo at City Hall in this undated photo.
Chula Vista Residents To Vote For First Elected City Attorney
Chula Vista residents vote this week for a mayor, two council members and a city attorney. Chula Vista voters passed a charter amendment in 2008 to establish an elected city attorney for the first time.

Chula Vista residents vote this week for a mayor, two council members and a city attorney. Chula Vista voters passed a charter amendment in 2008 to establish an elected city attorney for the first time.

Glen Googins and Robert Faigin are running for the position -- a role that promises to be a significant addition to Chula Vista’s political hierarchy.

Googins supporter, John Moot, is a former Chula Vista city councilman. Moot said the Charter amendment should have required the city attorney to be a resident of Chula Vista, but it doesn’t. Faigin lives in Lakeside

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“I’m unaware of any other position in which you do not have to reside in the community in order to represent the community. I think that the person who sponsored the amendment, and is now funding the candidate who doesn’t live in the city, is trying to stop all redevelopment in the central core of Chula Vista,” said Moot.

Earl Jentz, who owns property in the center of Chula Vista, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support an elected city attorney. He issued a statement saying he supports candidates he believes do the right thing for the community.

Jentz’s candidate, Faigin, said he is not running to block downtown development, but to promote open government. He said it doesn’t matter he lives in Lakeside.

“The U.S. Constitution is the same in Lakeside as it is in the City of Chula Vista,” Faigin said. “State law is the same in Lakeside as it is in Chula Vista. I’m running actually as the fresh start candidate.”

Faigin said he wants to clean up Chula Vista City Hall.

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Whoever becomes the city attorney will be the highest paid elected official in Chula Vista, earning a salary of more than $200,000.

The 2024 primary election is March 5. Find in-depth reporting on each race to help you understand what's on your ballot.