Draft, negotiate and enforce contracts between authors and Tesoro Publishing for the publication and dissemination of local history books provided to Southern California Elementary School children. Work closely with school district officials to implement book study programs throughout Orange and Los Angeles County schools. Draft, execute and file documents to insure the protection of proper copyright and trademark claims.

In the spring, I taught an elective class that gave upper-level students an overview of Election Law, including the history of the right to vote, partisan gerrymandering and districting, vote dilution, election administration (ballot counting, voter technology, and voter identification laws), ballot initiatives and referenda, the role of political parties, and campaign finance reform laws. Beginning in the fall, I will teach Property I, where we will cover interests and rights in property, negotiation of property arrangements and conflicts, the tension between public and private interests, adverse possession, landlord/tenant laws, responsibilities and duties, assignments and subleases, sales contracts and defenses, deeds, mortgages, the recordation of documents, and types of estates. In the spring, I will teach Property II, where we will discuss nuisance, eminent domain, different types of takings, negotiation tactics, easements and servitudes, water rights and the public trust doctrine, conveyances and future interests.

Advised elected officials and city employees on local and state governmental issues, such as compliance with the California Public Records Act; local massage establishment regulations, telecommunications infrastructure rules, medical marijuana establishment guidelines, and the proper administration of municipal elections. Represented Suisun police officers in Pitchess Motions and during investigatory panels. Researched and analyzed legal authority for attorneys firm-wide and city clerks throughout California on election-related issues, such as ballot arguments, candidate statements, ballot designations, applicability of the California Voting Rights Act, filling city council vacancies, and the legality of Election Day/polling place activities.

Offered advice and legal counsel to elected officials and city employees at all levels on key municipal laws regarding proper compliance with state and federal regulations. Served as city attorney during public and private meetings. Led closed-session discussions with city council members and pertinent staff regarding sensitive personnel issues, pending litigation, labor negotiations, real property purchase negotiations and certain public safety issues. Coordinated opposition comments on a CEQA EIR, which was designed by developers to elicit approval of a casino within the city boundaries. The casino was ultimately defeated.

Drafted complaints, declarations, motions, orders, points and authorities, and briefs for several election law cases supervised and argued by the firm's litigation partners. Extensively researched conflicts-of-interest violations and coordinated an internal investigation at the request of the agency attorney into a possible Government Code Section 1090 violation by an elected official. Drafted memoranda and prepared appropriate responses to senior attorney and client inquiries about municipal law issues including purchase and sale agreements, public contracting challenges, travel and reimbursement policies, compliance with campaign finance rules, and legality of lifetime retirement benefits for public employees.

Researched and wrote articles stating the Senator's opinion on controversial issues, which I shopped to various media outlets with the goal of getting the articles published. Represented the Senator at meetings and events throughout the area by speaking on his behalf to various groups. Recommended and implemented strategies for handling local, state and federal issues impacting the Senator's constituency. Built and maintained relationships with local, regional and statewide media sources resulting in an increase in the Senator's overall earned media.