City Attorney Resigns Post in South Gate
City Atty. Bruce Boogaard has resigned effective May 25 to become chief attorney for the city of Chula Vista.
Boogaard has been South Gate’s city attorney for eight years but had come under criticism recently. During the campaign leading up to the April 10 election, some candidates suggested that administrators, including Boogaard, would be fired if the balance of power changed on the five-member City Council.
Three newcomers were elected. The new council quickly scrapped a plan--approved on the eve of the election--to give top appointive officials, including the administrator and city attorney, more job protection and an improved severance package.
The council also hired a special legal counsel for some matters. Mayor Robert A. Philipp said the council wanted to avoid creating a possible conflict of interest for Boogaard. Philipp, a critic of Boogaard, said the city attorney “had resigned. He was not fired.” Philipp said he would not discuss difficulties he had with Boogaard.
Boogaard said he enjoyed working in South Gate and “was looking forward to a new challenge.”
Philipp said the council may name a new attorney at its next meeting May 29.
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