City Attorney Aguirre to Provide “Adult Supervision” to Wayward City Pension Board

SAN DIEGO – The Performance Institute today applauded a decision by newly elected City Attorney Mike Aguirre to re-assume the sole responsibility for providing legal counsel to the San Diego City Employee Retirement (SDCERs) Board. In response to the bold action, Institute President Carl DeMaio issued the following statement:

“Today’s action finally puts the Pension Board under ‘adult supervision.’

We strongly applaud City Attorney Michael Aguirre for correcting a serious error in judgment that until today has allowed the Pension Board to operate outside of the supervision of the City Attorney. Operating for the past six years outside of the active and appropriate review of the City Attorney, the Pension Board has brought great legal and financial risk to the City of San Diego. In many cases, they have operated through closed door meetings and have stretched—if not broken—their fiduciary and legal responsibilities.

It is important to note that by requiring the Pension Board to maintain and transfer all records and files to the City Attorney’s control, the City Attorney preserves key information to aid in any investigation into possible criminal wrongdoing by members of the Pension Board.”

The announcement by Aguirre comes on heals of shameless efforts by Pension Board members to silence whistleblower and fellow Pension Board member Diann Shipione. Recent media reports uncovered an absurd and plot to possibly have Ms. Shipione arrested should she attempt to exercise her right (and fiduciary obligation) to attend Pension Board meetings.

“The message Aguirre is sending the Pension Board is clear: no more games, no more political retaliation. The Pension Board must fully comply with the law or face sanction from the City’s own attorneys,” DeMaio concluded.

Based here in San Diego, the Institute is a national government reform think tank that promotes the principles of performance, transparency, competition and accountability in government. Additional information on the San Diego citizens’ Budget Project can be found at www.sandiegobudget.org.

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