Checks and balances

As we consider which city attorney candidate is best suited to

provide legal council to our city and its leaders, we can’t help but

be a bit alarmed by recent news that Deputy City Atty. Jennifer

McGrath took 10 checks from fellow city employees, a direct violation

of the city’s municipal codes.

We understand that people make mistakes. But what is really

upsetting to us is that this was not just the oversight of one member

of the city attorney’s office. It seems that five of the city’s

attorneys, who get paid with taxpayer dollars for their expertise in

the area of municipal law, were unaware of this particular part of

the law.

McGrath reportedly returned 10 contribution checks to city

employees, four of whom were Deputy City Atty. Paul D’Alessandro,

Deputy City Atty. Sarah Lazarus and attorneys Lee Burke and Leonie

Mulvihill.

That none of these attorneys, entrusted with representing and

defending the city and its residents, actually know the laws that

govern this city is a little more than disheartening.

Shouldn’t at least one of these folks give the city’s campaign

laws a quick read before writing the check?

We think so.

Should McGrath have double checked the rules before depositing

them?

Once again, we think so.

The city of Huntington Beach, unfortunately, does not have a good

track record of winning cases. We need to carefully elect a city

attorney who either knows the law well enough to change that sad

statistic or will at least do his or her homework.

This decision is crucial, as it is probably the last opportunity

we will have for a long time to chose a city attorney, or council

members for that matter, without incumbents running.

No one should have a leg up here. No one is favored as an

incumbent.

This needs to be a race based on ability and qualifications.

Something sorely lacking in the aforementioned incident.