D. A. Says He Was Kept in Dark About Plans for New Offices

An angry Dist. Atty. Ed Miller on Wednesday accused the county of not telling him about new office space planned for 50 of his staff members now housed in the El Cajon court building.

Miller, speaking at the County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, maintained that he first heard about the new office space being constructed across the street from current quarters last Friday, despite the fact that construction began several months ago.

“I was deliberately kept out of the information loop when this matter was considered,” Miller said. “The staff was given explicit instructions not to talk to me. . . . I’m upset at the way this was handled. I haven’t seen this place. I wasn’t told about this place.”

Board Chairman Leon Williams assured Miller that he had been left “out of the loop” by a simple communications breakdown. Williams and other supervisors apologized for the error and promised to give Miller ample time to review construction and propose changes.

The fourth floor of the court building at 250 E. Main St. in El Cajon, where the district attorney’s staff now works, is earmarked for four new courtrooms scheduled to open next year. County officials want to move the staff from the court building as soon as possible to begin construction on the much-needed courtrooms, Supervisor George Bailey said.

“It is true that Mr. Miller was not personally involved in the discussions,” said David Janssen, the county’s assistant administrative officer. Office space now under construction “certainly can be designed to meet the needs of the district attorney,” Janssen said.