On Local Government: Exhibit 1 for an elected Redondo Beach City attorney

by Bob Pinzler

In his recent exit interview with this newspaper, former Redondo Beach City Attorney Mike Webb not only admitted to ignoring felonious behavior but also acknowledged doing so because it was politically convenient. If there were ever a case to be made for changing the City Attorney position from being elected to appointed, this is it.

A little background is in order. Just before the March election, District 4 Councilmember Zein Obagi entered into an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office to postpone prosecution on a series of felonies, which he admitted to committing. The immediate result was that Obagi was required to resign from the State Bar, suspending his right to practice law for two years.. 

He violated the tenets of his profession — the same profession as Webb. Typically, when one fouls one’s own tent, there is consternation. In this case, the action of Webb, who had endorsed Obagi’s reelection, was not only to disregard it, but to accept it. He told Easy Reader Obagi’s actions should be ignored because “he was a good councilman.”

There are only nine elected City Attorneys in California. Most are in large municipalities, such as Los Angeles, San Diego, and Long Beach, where they primarily serve as administrators. As with the over 400 appointed City Attorneys in California, the job involves upholding the law as well as maintaining faith in it. By not repudiating Obagi’s actions, Webb thumbed his nose at the people of Redondo Beach, suggesting that as long as one is doing what they believe is in the best interest of constituents, regardless of any law-breaking, it is of no consequence. 

From now on, how can we believe that any particular action of this (or any) elected City Attorney does not include political overtones? If politics enters their advice  to the Council, how can we trust the advice is in the City’s best interests?

The primary justification for electing the City Attorney is it provides for an “independent check and balance on the Council’s power.” But are politically skewed opinions genuinely independent?

Through this interview, the people of Redondo Beach have gained insight into the workings of this office. If they keep their word, the Redondo Beach City Council will add a Charter change to an upcoming ballot to make this office appointed rather than elected. It is long past time for us to do that. ER