Wertz McDade Wallace Moot & Brower was the first firm to establish a political law practice in San Diego. Today it is the largest political law practice south of Los Angeles and the only such practice in San Diego. Our clients include businesses, political action committees, major contributors, Indian gaming tribes, labor organizations, political party committees, candidates, office holders and ballot measure committees.
Many local politicians have turned to Wertz McDade Wallace Moot & Brower in times of crisis, including several San Diego mayors and city council representatives facing accusations of misconduct or wrongdoing.
Over the years, firm attorneys have served as counsel to numerous statewide and local campaigns, including the Tax Big Oil initiative, the Flat Tax initiative, the District Elections initiative, the 1998 Padres Ball Park ballot election, the 1998 San Diego billion dollar school bond measure, the 1999 county-wide Neighborhood Libraries bond question and the Yes On Prop A Committee that successfully renewed the TransNet levy for transportation infrastructure.
Our political law expertise includes:
Local, State & Federal Campaign Law Compliance
We help numerous individuals, candidates, committees and major donors stay in compliance with the complex and contradictory campaign disclosure rules that apply on the local, state and federal level. Both donors and spenders of campaign funds must abide by a patchwork of laws that vary significantly from city to city and state to state. In addition to helping our clients comply with different laws in various jurisdictions, we help clients keep informed about the frequent changes in campaign laws, which are enacted and amended routinely. Contribution limits and expenditure rules also vary across jurisdictions and our clients who are active in politics rely on us to make sure they conform to these multi-faceted laws.
Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Analysis
Our clients come to us for detailed and informed analysis of ethics and conflicts of interest laws that may affect them as public officials, volunteer members of government boards, or as companies doing business with government entities. Many volunteer public officials and professionals retained as consultants to government agencies have annual obligations to file public reports of their economic interests. Volunteers and paid consultants must analyze whether decisions they participate in could give rise to ethical conflicts not immediately apparent to non-lawyers. We help untangle these complicated legal questions to avoid missteps and associated unfavorable media attention. Companies that do business with government agencies may also be subject to conflicts rules that do not exist in private sector contracts and we assist to ensure these engagements are in compliance with applicable laws.
Lobbying Laws
An increasing number of jurisdictions, including the City and County of San Diego, the City of Oceanside and the State of California, impose disclosure obligations on persons who, while being paid by their employer or a third party, seek to influence the decisions of government bodies. As with campaign finance rules, stiff fines may be imposed for failure to observe these laws, which differ significantly from one city to another. We assist our clients to identify the laws applicable to their activities and to implement reporting systems to insure that necessary lobbying disclosure reports are timely filed and make sure gift limits and contribution rules applicable to lobbyists are complied with.
Fair Political Practices Commission & Federal Commission Investigations
Many clients come to us when they receive an enforcement inquiry from the California Fair Political Practices Commission, the San Diego Ethics Commission or other regulatory agencies. Government offices that enforce campaign finance laws can impose heavy fines for violation of their rules. We defend clients in such administrative cases and strive to have the probe closed without adverse action or resolved on the most favorable terms achievable.
Litigation
Candidates and committees rely on us to represent them in ballot litigation matters including disputes over arguments and qualifications printed in the voter's pamphlet and on the ballot. We represent clients involved in the litigation over the propriety of an initiative or the eligibility of a candidate to run for office can also result in litigation.
For more information about our Political Law services, please contact:
