AGUIRRE CORRECTS RECORD ON OUTSIDE LEGAL BILLS; CALLS ON OPPONENT TO STOP DUCKING DEBATES AND DISCLOSE TO VOTERS HIS TRIAL EXPERIENCE
(San Diego, CA.-September 24, 2008) Contending that his opponent in the race for City Attorney has adopted a strategy of “campaigning by press release”, City Attorney Mike Aguirre today challenged Jan Goldsmith to come out of the shadows and publicly debate the issues.
“Campaigning by press release just doesn’t cut it,” said City Attorney Aguirre. “San Diego voters want to know what my opponent will do as city attorney, what his relevant experience is, and how he will protect the public” Aguirre added.
In responding to a Goldsmith press release alleging that the City’s “reliance on outside counsel has cost the City tens of millions of dollars in payments to attorneys”, Aguirre asserted that the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, working with retained lawyers, has actually saved the City of San Diego over $400 million during his administration.
“Jan Goldsmith needs to stop hiding behind the skirts of his handlers and place his cards on the table,” Aguirre said. “Stop running, stop hiding…let’s have a public forum on this one issue to see if my opponent can defend his allegation.”
Aguirre noted that it was he who objected to spending $26 million on the investigations conducted by the Kroll and Vinson & Elkins firms.
“These firms grossly overcharged the City and the Council did not heed my repeated advice to pull the plug,” Aguirre said. “Fortunately, the City Attorney’s Office was able to recover over $3 million in a settlement of a lawsuit we filed against Vinson & Elkins, and we continue to pursue a case against Willkie Farr, the law firm hired by Kroll to assist in its investigation.”
The $4 million spent on outside attorneys for City officials under investigation by the U.S. Attorney and SEC was prompted by those individuals who engaged in the pension and securities wrongdoing, not the City Attorney.
The City was also unsuccessfully sued multiple times by the Police Union—the same Union supporting Goldsmith. Outside counsel had to be retained because of conflicts of interests. Each time the Police Union has lost in court.
“Those responsible for causing the city to incur millions of dollars in legal fees are supporting my opponent,” Aguirre said. “This is the same group my opponent has thrown in with on the pension scandal.”
Aguirre pointed out that Goldsmith has abandoned the City's position to set aside over $800 million in unlawful pension debt while receiving the support of union leaders who would personally receive the tainted benefits.
“My opponent has sold out his client and taken up the propaganda that the City Attorney is responsible for the outside legal bills when the record shows that those behind my opponent, the ones holding key leadership positions in his campaign, are responsible for spending millions of dollars of taxpayers funds on unnecessary outside lawyers,” Aguirre asserted.
These facts are well known and on the record. What is not well known is whether Goldsmith has tried any court case before a jury that would qualify him to be San Diego City Attorney.
The City Attorney called upon his opponent to disclose the last case he tried to a jury. Identify the courtroom, the name of the judge, the name of the client, the opposing lawyer, the date, and the outcome of the case.
THE UNITED ASSOCIATION OF PLUMBERS AND STEAM FITTERS LOCAL 230
ENDORSES CITY ATTORNEY MIKE AGUIRRE FOR RE-ELECTION
SAN DIEGO – The United Association of Plumbers and Steam Fitters, Local 230, has endorsed Mike Aguirre's reelection for San Diego City Attorney.
"I am proud to stand with the men and women of the United Association of Plumbers and Steam Fitters," Aguirre said.
"The City Attorney plays a key role in making sure the laws that preserve labor's purchasing power are enforced," Aguirre said.
"As City Attorney I have worked to enforce the living wage and prevailing wage laws which build up the purchasing power of San Diego wage earners," Aguirre said.
"The momentum of support within labor is building in favor of my relection and its exciting to see my old dear friends in labor joining my campaign to keep the City Attorney's office working for San Diego wage earners, Aguirre said.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND ENDORSES
CITY ATTORNEY MIKE AGUIRRE FOR RE-ELECTION
SAN DIEGO – The Planned Parenthood Action Fund of San Diego and Riverside Counties has endorsed City Attorney Mike Aguirre for re-election.
“Mike Aguirre is committed to protecting women’s health and safety by ensuring access to reproductive health care services and supporting comprehensive sexuality education,” said Amy Denhart, Director of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “His opponent has a long record of opposing the right to choose, and opposing common sense measures to prevent unintended pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Planned Parenthood is proud to support the only pro-choice candidate in this race, City Attorney Mike Aguirre.”
“I am proud to stand with Planned Parenthood in the fight for reproductive choice and welcome this important endorsement,” said City Attorney Mike Aguirre. “I have always been 100% pro-choice and take seriously my responsibility to uphold the law, including San Diego’s ‘bubble ordinance,’ which for over a decade has protected women’s access to health centers in our city.
“My opponent has a very different record. In Sacramento, then-Assemblyman Jan Goldsmith voted wrong on choice nearly 80% of the time. He sided with extremists who opposed allowing women to designate OB-GYNs as their primary care providers, opposed requiring health plans to cover contraception, and opposed providing reproductive health care to women in poverty. What he did support were dangerous, politically motivated restrictions on the right to choose,” said Aguirre.
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund of San Diego & Riverside Counties is a 501(c)4 political, educational and legislative advocacy organization. Founded by volunteers, Planned Parenthood continues to rely on their energy and commitment to protect comprehensive reproductive healthcare through education and advocacy.
SAN DIEGO LA RAZA LAWYERS ENDORSE
CITY ATTORNEY MIKE AGUIRRE FOR RE-ELECTION
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego La Raza Lawyers has endorsed City Attorney Mike Aguirre for re-election. The San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association (SDLRLA) has grown to represent over three hundred Latino and Latina lawyers practicing in San Diego County. SDLRLA is one of 18 affiliate bar associations of the California La Raza Lawyers Association, which serves several thousand Latino lawyers practicing in the State of California.
"San Diego La Raza Lawyers represent an important part of the diversity of our legal community. I am deeply honored to have their support" said Aguirre.
The San Diego La Raza Lawyers advance the cause of equality, empowerment and justice for Latino attorneys and the Latino community in San Diego County through service and advocacy. They are dedicated to promoting diversity on both the bench and bar and support law students with mentorship programs and scholarships.
Their members include current and former state and federal court judges, magistrates, referees, law professors, State Bar committee members, county bar board directors, government officials, elected officials, lawyers practicing in all specialty areas and law students.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER MARY SALAS ENDORSES
CITY ATTORNEY MIKE AGUIRRE FOR RE-ELECTION
SAN DIEGO –San Diego Assemblymember Mary Salas endorsed Mike Aguirre's reelection bid for City Attorney today. Mary Salas was elected to represent the 79th California State Assembly District in November of 2006. The district includes portions of San Diego.
Assembly Member Salas is the Chair of the Committee on Veterans Affairs in 2007. Ms. Salas also serves on the three other Assembly committees: Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy; Water, Parks and Wildlife; and the Committee on Health.
"I am deeply honored to have the support of one of California's most outstanding Assembly members" said Aguirre.
"I look forward to working with Assembly Member Salas in the coming years on the legal problems facing the people of our City," Aguirre said.
LABORERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA LOCAL 89 ENDORSES
CITY ATTORNEY MIKE AGUIRRE FOR RE-ELECTION
SAN DIEGO – The Laborers International Union of North America Local 89 has endorsed Mike Aguirre for Re-Election as City Attorney.
“I have fought for union rights since becoming an attorney and am honored to have the support of the Laborers International Union, Local 89, that represents the hard working men and women of San Diego” said City Attorney Mike Aguirre.
LIUNA—the Laborers’ International Union of North America—is the most progressive, aggressive and fastest-growing union of construction workers, and one of the most diverse and effective unions representing public service employees.
CEMENT MASONS LOCAL 500 AREA 744 SAN DIEGO ENDORSES
CITY ATTORNEY MIKE AGUIRRE FOR RE-ELECTION
SAN DIEGO – The Cement Masons Local 500/Area 744 San Diego has endorsed Mike Aguirre for Re-Election as City Attorney.
“The Cement Masons know that Mike Aguirre is the best choice for the working men and women of San Diego” said Jamie Barton of the Cement Masons Local 500/Area 744
The Cement Masons represent unionized cement masons and finishers and take pride in their apprenticeship program and quality of workmanship that they bring to every job.
