Mara Elliott

{{Short description|American lawyer and former San Diego City Attorney}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Mara Elliott | image = File:CityAttorneyMaraElliott.jpg | office1 = City Attorney of San Diego | term_start1 = December 12, 2016 | term_end1 = December 10, 2024 | predecessor1 = Jan Goldsmith | successor1 = Heather Ferbert | birth_name = Mara E. Woodworth<ref name="BI">{{Cite web|url=https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/mara_e_woodworth_born_1968_10441229|title=Mara E Woodworth, Born 10/03/1968 in California | CaliforniaBirthIndex.org|website=www.californiabirthindex.org|accessdate=23 April 2023}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|10|03}}<ref name="BI" /> | birth_place = Los Angeles County, California, U.S.<ref name="BI" /> | spouse = Greg Elliott | children = Garrett<br />Graham | profession = Lawyer | education = University of California, Santa Barbara (BA)<br>McGeorge School of Law (JD) | website = [https://www.sandiego.gov/cityattorney/melliott City Attorney website] | party = Democratic }}

'''Mara Woodworth Elliott'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.martindale.com/attorney/mara-woodworth-woodworth-elliott-308941/|title=Mara Woodworth Elliott Profile | San Diego, CA Lawyer | Martindale.com|website=www.martindale.com|accessdate=23 April 2023}}</ref> (born October 3, 1968) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the San Diego City Attorney from 2016 to 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mara W. Elliott {{!}} City of San Diego Official Website|url=https://www.sandiego.gov/cityattorney/melliott|website=www.sandiego.gov}}</ref> A member of the Democratic Party,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Union-Tribune|first1=San Diego|title=San Diego city attorney candidate Mara Elliott: The Union-Tribune interview|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/sd-utbg-mara-elliott-interview-attorney-20161013-story.html|website=sandiegouniontribune.com|date=13 October 2016}}</ref> she was the first woman and the first Latina to hold the position.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Garrick|first1=David|title=New city attorney will bring shift in perspective, priorities|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-mara-elliott-20161201-story.html|website=sandiegouniontribune.com|date=9 December 2016}}</ref>

==Education== Elliott received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, majoring in English and Philosophy. She then received her J.D. degree from the McGeorge School of Law.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bowen|first1=Andrew|title=Candidates For San Diego City Attorney Emphasize Experience|url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2016/apr/29/candidates-san-diego-city-attorney-emphasize-exper/|website=KPBS Public Media|date=29 April 2016|language=en}}</ref>

== City Attorney == ===Elections=== {{Main|2016 San Diego City Attorney election}} Elliott was one of four Democrats to run for city attorney.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Board|first1=The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial|title=Q&A with San Diego city attorney candidates|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-live-editorial-board-with-city-attorney-candidates-2016may16-htmlstory.html|website=sandiegouniontribune.com|date=16 May 2016}}</ref> The incumbent city attorney Jan Goldsmith, her former boss, could no longer run after 8 years in the position due to term limits.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/elections/sd-me-election-attorney-20161106-story.html|title=Elliott wins in San Diego city attorney race|last=Cook|first=Morgan|work=sandiegouniontribune.com|access-date=2017-12-24|language=en-US}}</ref> Unlike her opponents, Elliott did not receive many of the typical endorsements from the various local democratic groups.<ref>{{cite web|title=Overlooked by Insiders, Mara Elliott Emerges in City Attorney Race – Voice of San Diego|url=http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/politics/overlooked-by-insiders-mara-elliott-emerges-in-city-attorney-race/|website=Voice of San Diego|date=8 June 2016}}</ref> Her second-place victory in the June primary was considered an upset due to her opponents out raising and out spending her. In the November runoff, she defeated Robert Hickey, a Republican, by a margin of 57% to 42%.

Elliott said she hoped to make the position less politicized, and take on a role as legal counsel for the San Diego City Council and mayor as opposed to being a public figure.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/politics/special-podcast-mara-elliott-wants-to-replace-her-boss-the-city-attorney/|title=Special Podcast: Mara Elliott Wants to Replace Her Boss, the City Attorney – Voice of San Diego|date=2015-09-16|work=Voice of San Diego|access-date=2017-12-24|language=en-US}}</ref>

{{Main|2020 San Diego City Attorney election}} In the 2020 election, Elliott ran for re-election for San Diego City Attorney in California against attorney Cory Briggs. Elliott won in the general election on November 3, 2020,<ref>{{Cite web| title = Mara Elliott| work = Ballotpedia| accessdate = 2022-10-09| url = https://ballotpedia.org/Mara_Elliott}}</ref> receiving over 66% of the votes.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Mara Elliott wins reelection as city attorney in dominant showing| work = FOX 5 San Diego| accessdate = 2022-10-09| date = 2020-11-04| url = https://fox5sandiego.com/news/politics/presidential-election-2020/elliott-claims-early-victory-in-city-attorney-race/}}</ref>

=== Chargers stadium === While running for city attorney in 2016, Elliott opposed Measure C and Measure D, which would have built a Chargers football stadium using hotel taxes. She stated the taxes would divert money from city services.<ref name=":0" />

=== Immigration === Elliott challenges Trump's travel ban.<ref name=":2" />

=== LGBT rights === Elliott successfully compelled the City Council to sign amicus briefs which show support for gay rights and transgender students in cases before the Supreme Court.<ref name=":2" />

=== Power of mayor to change budget === Elliott was asked by councilman David Alvarez about the extent of power by a San Diego mayor to change the city budget. Mayor Faulconer tried to earmark an extra $5 million in the city budget to fund a special election to expand the San Diego Convention Center and re-purpose Qualcomm Stadium. When his addition was not included in the year's budget by the city council, Faulconer tried to veto their budget and force his changes through with a simple 50% majority. When asked for clarification whether Faulconer would actually need a supermajority of 6 votes to add new items to the budget, Elliott stated that the City Charter gives the mayor power over the budget to "either approve, veto, or modify any line item approved by the Council." Therefore, in her opinion, Faulconer's actions were legal until the City Charter was changed to say otherwise.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/government/city-hall-startled-revelation-mayor-can-change-whatever-wants-budget/|title=City Hall Startled by Revelation the Mayor 'Can Change Whatever He Wants' in the Budget – Voice of San Diego|date=2017-06-06|work=Voice of San Diego|access-date=2017-12-28|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Rape kit testing === A state audit found that San Diego only tests about half of the rape kits it collects. While other cities identified in the audit have started testing all rape kits, San Diego is the only city that has not changed its policy. Elliot has repeatedly stated that she believes San Diego should test 100% of rape kits. She has said, "The experience in other jurisdictions shows that the evidence in untested kits can prove valuable in solving cold cases and identifying serial rapists. That alone is good reason."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/public-safety/city-attorney-challenges-sdpd-on-rape-kit-testing/|title=City Attorney Challenges SDPD on Rape Kit Testing – Voice of San Diego|date=2017-10-09|work=Voice of San Diego|access-date=2017-12-24|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Recreation councils === Independent groups in San Diego were in charge of running local recreational programs for 4 decades leading up to 2017. In 2017, there were revelations that money was being spent unevenly by the independent councils. For example, Carmel Valley began 2017 with more than $400,000 available for recreational services, while Stockton's account had $51. The independent councils also weren't following city rules about spending tax money. Elliot issued a legal opinion that tax money must be controlled by the city and could not be used to run non-regulated independent groups.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/government/city-attorney-says-obscure-recreation-councils-collecting-spending-citys-money/|title=City Attorney Says Obscure Recreation Councils Are Collecting and Spending the City's Money – Voice of San Diego|date=2017-10-30|work=Voice of San Diego|access-date=2017-12-26|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Short term rentals === Elliott issued a statement that short-term rentals are currently illegal in San Diego. She said there are no laws or legal definitions in the San Diego city code regarding short-term rentals, and her legal opinion is that the city considers new housing activity illegal until it is defined in the city code.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/government/no-airbnb-enforcement-crackdown-yet/|title=No Airbnb Enforcement Crackdown – Yet – Voice of San Diego|date=2017-03-29|work=Voice of San Diego|access-date=2017-12-26|language=en-US}}</ref> She has said she hoped this statement would spur the city to take action one way or the other.<ref name=":2" /> However, no action by the city or Mayor Faulconer has yet been taken to either legalize or restrict short-term rentals in the city code.<ref name=":1" />

== Notable mentions == * Voice of the Year 2017 – The nonprofit news organization ''Voice of San Diego'' named Elliott Voice of the Year in 2017 for driving the year's biggest civic discussions<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/news/2017-voice-year/|title=The 2017 Voice of the Year Is ... - Voice of San Diego|date=2017-12-18|work=Voice of San Diego|access-date=2017-12-23|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Electoral history== {{Election box open primary begin no change | title = San Diego City Attorney election, 2020<ref>{{cite web|title=March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary|url=https://www.livevoterturnout.com/SanDiego/LiveResults/en/Index_8.html|website=rov.sandiegocounty.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=November 3, 2020 Presidential Election|url=https://www.livevoterturnout.com/SanDiego/LiveResults/en/Index_10.html|website=rov.sandiegocounty.gov}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Mara W. Elliott | party = Nonpartisan politician | votes = 208767 | percentage = 67.86% }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Cory Briggs | party = Nonpartisan politician | votes = 71672 | percentage = 23.30% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Pete Mesich | party = Nonpartisan politician | votes = 27223 | percentage = 8.85% }}

{{Election box total no change | votes = 307662 | percentage = 100% }}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Mara W. Elliott | party = Nonpartisan politician | votes = 380291 | percentage = 66.58% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Cory Briggs | party = Nonpartisan politician | votes = 190893 | percentage = 33.42% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 571184 | percentage= 100% }} {{Election box end}}{{Election box open primary begin no change | title = San Diego City Attorney election, 2016<ref>{{cite web|title=June 7, 2016 Primary Election {{!}} City of San Diego Official Website|url=https://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/elections/city/160607primary|website=www.sandiego.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Election Information|url=http://www.sdvote.com/content/rov/en/elections.html|website=www.sdvote.com|language=en}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Robert Hickey | party = Nonpartisan politician | votes = 81513 | percentage = 28.98% }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Mara W. Elliott | party = Nonpartisan politician | votes = 68020 | percentage = 24.18% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Rafael Castellanos | party = Nonpartisan politician | votes = 54319 | percentage = 19.31% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Gil Cabrera | party = Nonpartisan politician | votes = 47072 | percentage = 16.73% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Bryan Pease | party = Nonpartisan politician | votes = 30011 | percentage = 10.67% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 280935 | percentage = 100% }}

==References== <references/>

==External links== * [https://www.sandiego.gov/cityattorney/melliott City of San Diego: Mara Elliott website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliott, Mara}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:University of California, Santa Barbara alumni Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:San Diego city attorneys Category:McGeorge School of Law alumni Category:California Democrats Category:Hispanic and Latino American politicians Category:Hispanic and Latino American lawyers Category:Women in California politics Category:Hispanic and Latino American women in politics Category:21st-century American women lawyers Category:21st-century American lawyers Category:21st-century California politicians