Alameda County, CA March 7, 2000 Election
Smart Voter

"I will implement reforms in the City Attorney's Office so that it operates professionally and serves the public trust."

By John Russo

Candidate for For City Attorney; City of Oakland

This information is provided by the candidate
The City Attorney's Office has missed at least two court dates this year.
If you, as a private citizen, hired an attorney that missed even one of your court dates, you would likely fire your lawyer for costing you money and failing to adequately represent your interests.

The City Attorney serves the people of Oakland. Missed court dates call the office's professionalism and management into question.

In addition, residents, neighborhoods, associations, non-profits, businesses and investors have all been repeatedly frustrated by the bureaucratic and slow response of the City Attorney's Office to their concerns, contractual needs and proposals.

As City Attorney, I will reform the City Attroney's Office as follows:

  • Conduct an independent performance audit to assess the damage from years of bureaucratic mismanagement.
  • Reduce bureaucracy and streamline operations so innovative programs like my proposed Neighborhood Law Corps can be implemented.
  • Guarantee that the City Attorney's Office will attend all scheduled court appearances, file its legal documents in a timely fashion and respond
    to public inquiries with speed and courtesy.
  • Conduct the thourough investigation needed to advise the City of the most cost-effective, legally prudent courses of action that leave the City
    and its taxpayers with the lowest degree of financial and legal exposure.

Oakland's taxpayers are entitled to competent, professional legal representation. As an experienced litigator and administrator, I will bring clear legal direction, good judgement, and sound management to the City Attorney's Office. I will implement whatever actions are necessary to restore the public trust and ensure that every dime possible is spent wisely.

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