Page 10 - 2023_HRD Newsletter

LES GIRARD
COUNTY COUNSEL
RETIRING DECEMBER 30, 2023

What inspired you to pursue your career, and how has it evolved over the
years?

I remember wanting to pursue a career as a lawyer at a young age. College
was just a waystation for me on the way to law school. During the summers
while in law school I interned at the San Diego City Attorney’s Office and was
offered a job in 1981 after graduation and passing the bar. I hadn’t really
planned on a career in public sector law, but enjoyed the work while an
intern, and enjoyed the people and office atmosphere. I ended up staying for
25 years, rising to an Assistant City Attorney. I left the City Attorney’s Office due to philosophical differences
with a newly elected City Attorney (the position is elected in San Diego) who was from outside the office. After
a short stint in the private sector, I was hired into the County Counsel’s Office in 2008, and I have enjoyed every
minute of it since.

Can you share some of the most significant professional accomplishments or milestones from your career
that you are particularly proud of?

There are two that stand out: playing a key role in the negotiations with the San Diego Padres for the
development of Petco Park and the redevelopment of the old Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego, and
playing a key role in the creation of the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, and providing
legal services to that Agency in its mission to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

What are some of the key lessons or insights you've gained from your years of experience that you'd like to
pass on to the next generation or your colleagues?

Treat coworkers and members of the public with respect no matter what. Stay calm and don’t overreact when
faced with adversity. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know,” or “I need to look into that” but be sure to follow
up as appropriate. Be a problem solver, not a problem maker.

How do you envision your retirement, and what are some of the activities or projects you look forward to in
this new chapter of your life?

I used to be an avid photographer but have gotten away from that hobby and want to pick it up
again. Looking forward to traveling with family and friends around the country and overseas. Plus, lots to do
around the house.

Can you recount a memorable or humorous story from your career that stands out to you?

One memory that stands out was a matter that occurred when I was a fairly new attorney. Most new attorneys
in the City Attorney’s Office start out as prosecutors (misdemeanors and infractions) and are given very little
time to prepare a case. I once was assigned to prosecute a woman who kept her full-grown horse in her

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