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<h2>Heather Ferbert for City Attorney</h2>

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<h6>San Diego City Attorney</h6>

<h4>Mara Elliott</h4>

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<h1>Heather Ferbert: Chief Deputy City Attorney</h1>

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<h6>Outgoing City Attorney Mara eLLIOTT</h6>

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<h1>City Attorney Heather Ferbert</h1>

Kent Lee, San Diego Councilmember

Dr. Jen Campbell, San Diego Councilmember

Mara Elliott, San Diego City Attorney

Monica Montgomery-Steppe, County Supervisor

Johanna Schiavoni, Past President, San Diego County Bar Association

Heather Rosing, Past President, San Diego County Bar Association&nbsp;

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Alysson Snow, Lemon Grove City Councilmember

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Michael Zucchet, Port of San Diego Commissioner

Shana Hazan, San Diego Unified School Board

Richard Barrera, San Diego Unified School Board Trustee

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Libby Schaaf, former Oakland Mayor

Aaron Dumas, Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation, Past President

Marquetta Brown, CA Democratic Party Executive Board Member

Brianna Coston, La Mesa Spring Valley School District Trustee

Mitz Lee, San Diego Unified School Board Trustee (ret.)

Amy Herman, San Dieguito Union High School District Trustee (ret.)

Andrea Beth Damsky, Helix Water Board Director

Jenn French, Trial Attorney &amp; 2023 Woman of the District for the 39th Senate District

Alreen Haeggquist, Bestselling Author and Attorney

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<h2>Meet Heather:</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/977f5bae-273a-45ee-879e-4cef75cd0ad1/57cc4af9-7699-4c76-93b7-2e4f90a3aece/57cc4af9-7699-4c76-93b7-2e4f90a3aece.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=741%2C377%2C4590%2C4138&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h4>Chief Deputy City Attorney Heather Ferbert works every day to uphold the law and deliver for San Diego neighborhoods. As City Attorney, Heather Ferbert will:</h4><ul><li>Launch the Housing Protection Unit to preserve the affordable housing we simply can’t afford to lose.</li><li>Keep San Diego Safe. Enforce the law and give our prosecutors the tools and resources they need to do their jobs.&nbsp;</li><li>Protect taxpayers and working families with a stronger consumer protection unit to go after financial scams, illegal pollution, and fair pay violations.</li><li>Always stand up for women whether that means going after domestic abusers, providing support to survivors, or defending the right to choose.</li><li>Uphold the law equally. Ensure city officials act justly. No political favors.</li></ul><h4>Unmatched Legal Experience</h4>​Qualified. Committed. Ready To Lead. That’s Chief Deputy City Attorney Heather Ferbert.&nbsp;&nbsp;As Chief Deputy City Attorney, Heather has defended women’s rights, opened emergency homeless shelters, protected our parks and waterways, and stopped million-dollar real estate fraud scams. Heather currently leads the City’s legal team that advises the City Council and ensures City officials follow the law.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Previously, Heather was an attorney for the Housing Commission and other public agencies.<h4> The Law, Not Politics</h4>For Heather, it’s always about making a real difference for the people – never politics. As Chief Deputy City Attorney, Heather delivered on some of the toughest challenges facing San Diego.<ul><li>Broke the gridlock to open emergency homeless shelters and new treatment centers</li><li>Stopped multi-million real estate fraud scams and uncovered financial waste and mismanagement</li><li>Stood up for abortion rights by strengthening San Diego’s pro-choice protections after the Supreme Court ruling</li></ul><h4>A Working mom Who Gets it</h4>A mother and attorney for the people, Heather lives by her values of integrity, hard work, and leading by example. And she knows the struggles families and women often face because she’s lived them, working her way up in a male-dominated field while proudly raising her family.Heather is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law. She’s active in the Lawyer's Club of San Diego, the women’s bar association, and is an adjunct professor at the San Diego School of Law. Heather trains new lawyers hoping to inspire them to careers in public interest and to be engaged members of the legal community.&nbsp;She lives in the Normal Heights neighborhood with her husband, Andrew, and their daughter.

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<h2>Heather Ferbert for City Attorney</h2>

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“San Diego deserves a qualified City Attorney who puts the law ahead of politics. I’ve stopped fraud and opened emergency homeless shelters. I’ll take on domestic violence and illegal guns. I’ll protect taxpayers always.&nbsp;San Diego’s legal community supports me, but the most important endorsement is yours. I’m honored to be your City Attorney.”

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<h1>Endorsements</h1>

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<a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1p7WT3dc1zj6GQARB--6imM2oBBMpL8iO?usp=share_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Photos/Mail</a><h2>Message for San Diego Voters</h2>High-propensity Democratic voters and Independent women need to read the following information about Brian Maienschein: <ul><li>Maienschein has been a far-right Republican for almost his entire 24-year political career.&nbsp;</li><li>In the state Assembly, he supported Trump’s right-wing agenda up and down the line, voting against abortion rights and against gun safety background checks.</li><li>He was <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/15Jh2YXOyEmjQlx8Ft6J4SAmXRIy53Bg1/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">endorsed by the NRA</a>, given a<a href="https://justfacts.votesmart.org/interest-group/224/rating/7004" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> 4% rating by Planned Parenthood</a>, and received a <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/2022-10/2022%20Report%20Card_0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">30% rating by the Sierra Club</a>.</li></ul> If high-propensity Democratic voters and Independent women have heard enough about Brian Maienschein, then all likely voters need to read the following:&nbsp; <ul><li>Maienschein is completely unqualified to be City Attorney<ul><li>Maienschein is a Sacramento politician, not an experienced attorney. <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2023/03/26/what-does-it-take-to-run-for-city-attorney-maienschein-could-face-legal-challenge-contending-hes-not-eligible-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">He hasn’t even practiced law in 24 years.</a></li><li>Maienschein gamed the system to get himself a taxpayer funded pension at age 39 <a href="https://inewsource.org/2024/09/03/maienschein-san-diego-city-attorney-pension/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">on top of his government salary</a>. We need a city attorney who protects taxpayers, not a politician who scams us for his personal gain.</li></ul></li></ul>Maienschein’s pension scheme nearly bankrupt San Diego, gutted police and fire services and resulted in a <a href="https://www.kpbs.org/news/2008/12/23/sd-spends-7-million-on-legal-fees-in-pension" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">federal investigation that ruled Maienschein “negligent.”</a>

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<h4>Adams Ave Street Fair (Day 2)</h4>

Adams Ave Street Fair (Day 2)

In deciding who to endorse to succeed San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott — Chief Deputy City Attorney Heather Ferbert or Assemblymember Brian Maienschein — a key consideration is one’s view of the incumbent as she wraps up her eighth and final year on the job. Though Elliott was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.sandiego.gov/cityattorney/melliott">honored</a> in her first term as California’s Public Lawyer of the Year, the Gloria administration and some City Council members have signaled concerns about her legal work.It’s fair to look at the complaints and wonder if other elected leaders’ gripes are largely driven by Elliott not being pliantly cooperative with<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2023-10-04/san-diego-city-attorney-proposal-controversy-elo-rivera-elliott"> their agendas</a> and attempting to keep the blame for the city’s Ash Street fiasco squarely on the council and former Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Her independence served San Diegans well in 2020 when she<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/editorials/story/2020-05-22/city-council-sdsu-west-deal-faulconer-gomez-elliott-chargers-stadium"> refused to rush</a> through negotiations with San Diego State University over SDSU West despite pressure from Faulconer and then-Council President Georgette Gómez to rubber-stamp SDSU’s planned development of the former Qualcomm Stadium site. Given how often City Hall has botched major decisions, the impatience with her methodical review was baffling.Elliott has strongly endorsed Ferbert and has been among the many who wonder about Maienschein’s suitability as city attorney, given the fact he has not been a practicing attorney for many years.Maienschein says that’s a non-issue. He cites his ability to get bills passed in Sacramento and his eight years as a City Council member. But in an interview Tuesday with editorial board members, he especially emphasized the depth of his support from the San Diego establishment, which he contends broadly gives low marks to Elliott — and by extension, Ferbert.Yet after nearly three decades of embarrassing city screw-ups, should voters even see the support of the San Diego establishment as a positive factor? How many members of that establishment have an accomplishment even remotely as impressive as Elliott’s pioneering use of gun violence restraining orders (GVROs)? Ferbert has worked well with Elliott on this and other issues and vows to maintain the City Attorney Office’s “independent, arm’s-length relationship” with other parts of City Hall. In contrast, Maienschein can sound like he sees the job as being akin to the 10th seat on the City Council.We have concerns about one case of Ferbert’s work. She is proud of having done the legal analysis for the city’s Unsafe Camping Ordinance, which currently exists in a legal gray area pending the Supreme Court’s consideration of the legality of clearing homeless encampments. This legal question has resulted in lukewarm enforcement of the camping ban, which is not ideal and has led some to question the intent of the law. But the mayor and a council majority wanting the measure left her to execute their vision.In an interview Monday, she came across as confident, informed and determined to leave her own mark as city attorney, not be the equivalent of a third Elliott term. She wants to launch a “housing protection unit” to preserve existing affordable housing — a worthy cause in a city that’s been too blithe about such events as the 2017 demolition of a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/new-development-rancho-penasquitos-affordable-housing/19297/">332-unit </a>apartment complex in Rancho Peñasquitos and has done little to adequately protect about <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2022-03-09/san-diego-making-little-progress-on-action-plan-to-preserve-affordable-housing-with-money-new-law">70,000 </a>affordable apartments that may be imperiled by developers looking to build more lucrative homes. She also plans to strengthen consumer protections against financial scams and to target companies not following fair pay laws. And she vows to continue the incumbent’s aggressive use of GVROs to keep the public safe, noting the tactic’s value in averting a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/story/2024-01-21/san-diego-city-attorneys-office-gun-violence-restraining-orders-2023">potential tragedy </a>in Rancho Bernardo last month.The editorial board endorses Heather Ferbert for city attorney. She is much better-qualified and more likely to be an independent voice in a city government in perpetual need of such voices.

The editorial board endorses Heather Ferbert for city attorney. She is much better-qualified and more likely to be an independent voice in a city government in perpetual need of such voices.

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<h4>Endorsement:&nbsp;Heather Ferbert for San Diego city attorney</h4>

<h4>Last Fundraiser of the Campaign!</h4>

Host Committee: Laurie Black, Janessa Goldbeck

Last Fundraiser of the Campaign!

SAN DIEGO&nbsp;—&nbsp;The battle for endorsements continued Wednesday in the race for San Diego’s next city attorney, with termed-out City Attorney Mara Elliott endorsing one of her deputies to succeed her next year.It’s the second major endorsement for Chief Deputy City Attorney Heather Ferbert, who was endorsed in July by the city’s largest labor union, the 5,000-member Municipal Employees Association.But Ferbert’s opponent, Assemblymember Brian Maienschein, a fellow Democrat, still has a much longer list of key supporters.ADVERTISINGMaienschein has been endorsed by the county Democratic Party, Mayor Todd Gloria, most of the City Council, the city’s police labor union and several other labor organizations.Elliott said Wednesday that she was endorsing Ferbert to succeed her because of her experience and the issues Ferbert would prioritize.“Heather Ferbert has the unmatched legal experience the city attorney needs and an unwavering focus on the law, not politics,” Elliott said in a news release. “I trust Heather Ferbert to put her extraordinary legal qualifications to work protecting the taxpayers, getting illegal guns off the street and ensuring the independence of the City Attorney’s Office.”Ferbert has also been endorsed by three local legal organizations and by some local Democratic clubs, including the Pacific Beach Democratic Club.Maienschein has the support of both Democrats on the county Board of Supervisors, three local members of Congress and several state officials, including Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta.In campaign donations, the latest disclosures submitted in July showed Maienschein with a large fundraising lead over Ferbert, $116,000 to $47,000.The city attorney plays a key role in advising the mayor and council on land-use decisions, lawsuits and the legality of proposed city policies. The job also includes overseeing misdemeanor prosecutions.But city leaders have discussed this year a possible November 2024 ballot measure that would <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2023-09-03/city-attorney-ballot-measure-criticism-ferbert-maienschein-elliott">divide the job between two people</a>, an elected city attorney to handle prosecutions and an appointed municipal counsel to handle litigation and legal advice.While Maienschein and Ferbert will face off in the March primary, the race won’t be decided until November. San Diego election rules mandate runoffs between the top two finishers, even if one gets more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary.

Elliott said Wednesday that she was endorsing Ferbert to succeed her because of her experience and the issues Ferbert would prioritize.

<h4>In San Diego city attorney candidates’ fight for key support, Mara Elliott endorses her chief deputy</h4>

<h4>Lightning Brewery Fundraiser</h4>

Lightning Brewery Fundraiser

<h4>Meet and Greet at Law Office of David Shapiro</h4>

Meet and Greet at Law Office of David Shapiro

As leaders committed to the welfare of San Diego's youth, Heather Ferbert, Chief Deputy City Attorney, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IJosQxNzsN-KTLCAWSzE7fZG-_6HKD-e/view" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary)">proposes a bold initiative to safeguard our children</a> with the support of Shana Hazan, San Diego Unified School Board President. Recognizing the increasing threats to child safety, this plan is designed to address critical issues impacting our community's youngest members.

Write a short blurb about an issue your campaign is highlighting. Try to keep the text a similar size between the various issue blurbs.

<h2>Child Safety Plan</h2>

<h4>Fundraiser at Ponce's Restaurant</h4>

Fundraiser hosted by Hon. Richard Barrera, Hon. Shana Hazan, and Mikey Knab, with Members of the San Diego Progressive Democratic Club

Fundraiser at Ponce's Restaurant

<ul><li>Increase Affordable Housing: Provide airtight legal advice to the city to stop frivolous lawsuits and project-killing delays.</li><li>Protect Existing Housing Supply: Crack down on illegal conversions and enforce the city’s short-term rental law.</li></ul>

Increase Affordable Housing: Provide airtight legal advice to the city to stop frivolous lawsuits and project-killing delays.Protect Existing Housing Supply: Crack down on illegal conversions and enforce the city’s short-term rental law.

<h2>Housing Protection Unit</h2>

<h4>Adams Avenue Street Fair (Day 1)</h4>

Adams Avenue Street Fair (Day 1)

<h4>Afternoon Reception with Heather Ferbert</h4>

Join the Pacific Beach Democratic Club and the La Jolla Democratic Club for an afternoon reception.

Afternoon Reception with Heather Ferbert

Featuring Special Guest: Libby Schaff!

<h4>LA Fundraiser for Heather Ferbert</h4>

Featuring Special Guest, Libby Schaaf!

LA Fundraiser for Heather Ferbert

<ul><li>Equip Prosecutors for Success: Strengthen our justice system by ensuring prosecutors have the necessary tools and resources to effectively handle cases, prioritizing public safety and justice.</li><li>Stop Fentanyl: Aggressively go after the opioid black market that’s poisoning our kids and cut off the supply of drugs into our community.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Improve Re-entry Programs: Enhance reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into society, reducing recidivism and promoting restorative justice for non-violent offenders.</li></ul>

Equip Prosecutors for Success: Strengthen our justice system by ensuring prosecutors have the necessary tools and resources to effectively handle cases, prioritizing public safety and justice.Stop Fentanyl: Aggressively go after illegal fentanyl dealers that are poisoning our kids and cut off the supply of drugs into our community.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Keeping San Diego Safe</h2>

Join members of the AAPI Community and special guest, Councilmember Kent Lee!

<h4>Fundraiser hosted by AAPI Community</h4>

Featuring Special Guest, City Councilmember Kent Lee!

Fundraiser hosted by AAPI Community

<ul><li>Safeguarding Children and Seniors: Protect children and seniors from domestic abuse and expand San Diego’s Family Justice Center</li><li>Supporting Women’s Rights: Defended San Diego women’s abortion rights, particularly following the reversal of Roe v. Wade.</li><li>Defending Constitutional Freedoms: Fight discrimination against racial minority groups, the LGBTQ community, and people with disabilities.</li></ul>

Safeguarding Children and Seniors: Protect children and seniors from domestic abuse and expand San Diego’s Family Justice CenterSupporting Women’s Rights: Defended San Diego women’s abortion rights, particularly following the reversal of Roe v. Wade.Defending Constitutional Freedoms: Fight discrimination against racial minority groups, the LGBTQ community, and people with disabilities.

<h2>Protecting Vulnerable Populations</h2>

<ul><li>Go After Corporate Polluters: Aggressively pursue legal action against corporations responsible for pollution, ensuring they are held accountable for their impact on the environment and public health.</li><li>Promote Sustainable Practices: Advocate for and enforce environmental laws that encourage sustainable development and protect our public lands for future generations to enjoy.</li></ul>

Go After Corporate Polluters: Aggressively pursue legal action against corporations responsible for pollution, ensuring they are held accountable for their impact on the environment and public health.Promote Sustainable Practices: Advocate for and enforce environmental laws that encourage sustainable development and protect our public lands for future generations to enjoy.

<h2>Protecting the Environment</h2>

<ul><li>Crackdown on Real Estate and Fraud Scams: Heather successfully stopped multi-million dollar scams defrauding taxpayers.</li><li>Guardian of Public Resources: Vigilant watchdog against waste, fraud, and inside political deals.</li><li>Strengthen the Consumer Protection Unit: Ensure effective use of taxpayer money and don’t accept “business as usual” as an excuse for wasteful practices.</li></ul>

Crackdown on Real Estate and Fraud Scams: Heather successfully stopped multi-million dollar scams defrauding taxpayers.Guardian of Public Resources: Be a watchdog against waste, fraud, and inside political deals.Strengthen the Consumer Protection Unit: Ensure effective use of taxpayer money and don’t accept “business as usual” as an excuse for wasteful practices.

<h2>Fighting Fraud and Protecting Taxpayers</h2>

<ul><li>Strengthening Red Flag Laws: Expand San Diego's Red Flag Gun Law to more effectively remove illegal guns from the streets.</li><li>Targeting Illegal Firearms: Focus on confiscating ghost guns and firearms from people who shouldn’t have them.</li></ul>

Strengthening Red Flag Laws: Expand San Diego's Red Flag Gun Law to more effectively remove illegal guns from the streets.Targeting Illegal Firearms: Focus on confiscating ghost guns and firearms from people who shouldn’t have them.

<h2>Stopping Gun Violence</h2>

Heather Ferbert’s profile has a track record.The chief deputy city attorney launched her campaign to replace her boss, City Attorney Mara Elliott, when she’s termed out in 2024. Back in 2016, Elliott showed that “Democratic chief deputy city attorney without a history in local politics” can be a strong resume.It’s early. Maybe former Mayor Kevin Faulconer will try to get his old job back. But as we wait on that, this city attorney’s race could be the only competitive city race on the 2024 ballot. Assemblyman Brian Maienschein, the former San Diego councilman who became a Democrat in 2019, is expected to run for city attorney as well, but incumbents are up for re-election in every other city race on the ballot.Ferbert currently works in the advisory division, the one that acts as general counsel for city officials to help guide their decision making. The office also prosecutes misdemeanors, and both represents the city in civil litigation.As accomplishments in office, Ferbert touts two pandemic era policies: writing the temporary eviction moratorium enacted when Covid-19 hit, and working on the shelter-to-home program at the Convention Center that the city snapped into at the time.She’s now running for an office that in recent years has drawn questions about whether it should be elected at all. Former Councilman Mark Kersey in 2020 proposed making the advisory and civil litigation parts of the office appointed, and only electing someone to prosecute misdemeanors.Ferbert said working in the office has convinced her that a city the size of San Diego should have an elected city attorney.For one, she said, having all three divisions is good for office morale: lawyers are often hired into the criminal division, and can move up and into the civil or advisory divisions.But she said San Diego’s form of government also means it is different than the county government, where the board of supervisors appoint both a chief executive and legal counsel, and then both of those positions report to the same board that appointed them.“A strong mayor, strong council government like we have, there can be situations where the two elected bodies you advise and report to don’t agree,” Ferbert said. “An appointed city attorney could run into a lot of challenges that are hard to navigate, where you’re taking direction from elected officials that are saying different things. If there’s a divide, who are you following, if your client is the municipal corporation, and the entire point is to look out for the public?”The next city attorney, Ferbert said, will have to start changing the trend of “the city getting steamrolled by developers.”“The city is about to embark on the Sports Arena and Civic Center revitalizations, two land transactions where the city attorney will have to protect the city,” she said.

As accomplishments in office, Ferbert touts two pandemic era policies: writing the temporary eviction moratorium enacted when Covid-19 hit, and working on the shelter-to-home program at the Convention Center that the city snapped into at the time.

<h4>The Chief Deputy City Attorney Looking for a Promotion</h4>

<h4>Fundraiser at Uptown Tavern</h4>

Host Committee: Benny Cartwright, Edwin Lohr&nbsp;

Fundraiser at Uptown Tavern

<ul><li>Homeless Encampment Clean-Up Laws: Wrote the law to clean up homeless encampments and added family shelters.</li><li>Comprehensive Homeless Strategies: Enforce the law and offer shelter to every homeless person in need.&nbsp;</li><li>Mental Health Treatment: Work with law enforcement and behavioral health clinicians to fully implement CARE Court.</li></ul>

Homeless Encampment Clean-Up Laws: Wrote the law to clean up homeless encampments and added family shelters.Comprehensive Homeless Strategies: Enforce the law and offer shelter to every homeless person in need.&nbsp;Mental Health Treatment: Work with law enforcement and behavioral health clinicians to fully implement CARE Court.

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Latest Campaign Developments

Politics Report: Ferbert-mentum

Chief Deputy Ahead of Termed-Out Legislator in Race for City Attorney

Endorsement: Heather Ferbert for San Diego city attorney

In San Diego city attorney candidates’ fight for key support, Mara Elliott endorses her chief deputy

Why We Need an Elected, Independent City Attorney

What does it take to run for city attorney? Maienschein could face legal challenge.

The Chief Deputy City Attorney Looking for a Promotion