Chula Vista, CA — Chula Vista City Attorney Candidate Bart Miesfeld today released the following statement on his opponent’s ethics issues:

“We need a City Attorney who will bring integrity, transparency, and accountability to City Hall at a time when it is desperately needed. Marco Verdugo has an unfortunate record of misleading voters, violating city ethics rules, and seeking support from criminally indicted politicians. Through his actions, Marco has proven himself unfit for the office of City Attorney.”

Throughout the campaign for City Attorney, Verdugo has exercised critical lapses in ethical judgement:

• This past August, in response to a case brought forth by Miesfeld’s campaign for City Attorney, Judge Katherine Bacal ruled that Verdugo was attempting to mislead voters by using a ballot designation that was “false, inaccurate, and misleading.” Judge Bacal ruled in Miesfeld’s favor prohibiting the ballot designation. Despite the Judge’s conclusion, Verdugo continues to identify himself in a misleading fashion as a deputy city attorney in other campaign materials.
• Later in the campaign, in another ethical lapse, Verdugo was several weeks late in filing a notification with the City Clerk’s office that he was self funding his campaign in the amount of $5,000. City ethics rules require a candidate to immediately notify the City Clerk and other candidates running when contributing large amounts of money to your campaign.
• Throughout the campaign, Verdugo received and advertised that he was endorsed by recently criminally indicted Councilmember Andrea Cardenas and numerous elected officials she supported and helped get elected. Verdugo listed Cardenas as a key supporter in his campaign materials and his official statement of qualifications filed with the City Clerk.

Contrary to Verdugo’s troubling record, Miesfeld has received acclaim for upholding the highest levels of ethics and integrity. Retired Chula Vista Police Chief David Bejarano stated, “Throughout his career, Bart Miesfeld has been dedicated to serving the public with the highest ethical standards and with a steadfast commitment to uplifting the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Bart Miesfeld earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from SDSU and his Juris Doctorate Degree, Magna Cum Laude, from California Western School of Law, here in San Diego.  He went on to complete a postgraduate program of instruction at Harvard Law School.  After working as a trial attorney with a large private law firm, Bart joined the Chula Vista City Attorney’s office and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually being appointed the City Attorney by the Chula Vista City Council and Mayor. Throughout his 20-year career in the City Attorney’s Office, Bart worked hard to safeguard taxpayer resources and to improve quality of life for Chula Vista residents.

Outside of his work as Chula Vista City Attorney, Bart has been passionate about helping students achieve academic and professional success, which led him to become an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of San Diego.

For more information about Miesfeld and his campaign for City Attorney, please visit www.BartMiesfeld.com