Today, Deputy City Attorney Marco Verdugo formally announced his candidacy for Chula Vista City Attorney, aiming to bring new leadership and a fresh perspective to the city’s legal team. As the son of Mexican immigrants and a lifelong Chula Vista resident, Verdugo pledged to bring a steadfast dedication to the law while working to help the city keep housing affordable, prevent gun violence, and ensure city laws truly reflect the values of Chula Vista’s diverse and hard-working community.
Marco Verdugo said: “I’m running for City Attorney to protect all of Chula Vista and keep my hometown safe and affordable for everyone. I’m a Deputy City Attorney and a lifelong Chula Vista resident, so I have both the deep legal experience and deep community commitment city residents deserve. As Chula Vista’s City Attorney, I’ll uphold the law and work tirelessly to protect our city’s families, finances, and future.”
Verdugo begins the campaign with the endorsement of the San Diego County Democratic Party, which he earned in a unanimous vote on Tuesday evening before formally launching his campaign. He is also endorsed by San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott, the region’s top elected Democratic legal officer.
As an accomplished Deputy City Attorney with the City of San Diego and currently serving in the City Attorney’s Offices for Solana Beach and Coronado, Marco Verdugo’s legal experience has given him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing Chula Vista. Verdugo has rooted out waste, fraud, and abuse while enforcing fair pay laws and cutting through red tape to add and preserve affordable housing.
His experience is not just professional, but also deeply personal. He has provided pro bono legal assistance to low-income individuals and volunteered at Casa Cornelia to help refugees and asylum seekers. Born and raised in Chula Vista, Verdugo’s first legal job was as an intern in the Chula Vista City Attorney’s office that he now seeks to lead.
Verdugo’s campaign kicks off with an impressive list of endorsements from within and outside Chula Vista. Some of the notable endorsements include:
- San Diego County Democratic Party
- Mara Elliott, San Diego City Attorney
- Andrea Cardenas, Chula Vista City Councilmember
- Carolina Chavez, Chula Vista City Councilmember
- Alonso Gonzales, Chula Vista City Councilmember
- Cesar Fernandez, Chula Vista School Board Trustee
Marco lives in East Chula Vista with his wife and children who attend local public schools. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from San Diego State University and a law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. The special election will take place on November 7th, 2023, with a potential runoff scheduled for March 5th, 2024 if no candidate wins a majority in the primary. The special election is being held because longtime, highly-regarded local attorney Simon Silva, who was elected City Attorney in 2022, tragically passed away before taking office.
To learn more about Marco Verdugo and his campaign, visit www.marcoverdugo.com and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.