Deputy city attorney running for top job

Heather Ferbert, a San Diego deputy city attorney with expertise in preventing evictions and opening homeless shelters, is the first candidate to officially enter the race to succeed her boss, City Attorney Mara Elliott, in 2024.

“I’m running for city attorney because we need an experienced, trusted city attorney fighting for the progress San Diego urgently needs,” Ferbert said in a news release.

One of Ferbert’s top competitors in the race is expected to be Assemblymember Brian Maienschein, who said last month that he is strongly considering a second run at the job he unsuccessfully sought in 2008.

City attorney is expected to be the most competitive city election in 2024 because it’s the only city race of seven on the ballot that won’t feature an incumbent.

Elliott can’t run for re-election because of term limits, while Mayor Todd Gloria and five City Council incumbents — Joe LaCava, Stephen Whitburn, Marni von Wilpert, Raul Campillo and Sean Elo-Rivera — are expected to seek re-election.

Ferbert, 42, said Wednesday that she would launch a protection unit to preserve affordable housing if she is elected. She would also focus on crime and domestic abuse.

Ferbert, a Democrat, said she also wouldn’t put politics ahead of the law or personal gain ahead of the public good.

Maienschein has served in the state Assembly since 2012, after having previously represented District 5 on the San Diego City Council from 2000 to 2008. A former Republican, he switched parties in 2019 and was re-elected to the Assembly as a Democrat last year. He can’t run for re-election next year because of term limits.

Ferbert, 42, lives in Normal Heights with her husband and daughter, who is in middle school. Ferbert grew up in Orange County and earned her bachelor’s degree from Long Beach State and law degree from the University of San Diego.

The city attorney plays a key role in advising the mayor and council on land-use decisions, lawsuits and the legality of proposed policies. The job also includes overseeing misdemeanor prosecutions.