Miesfeld and Verdugo take an early lead in the race for Chula Vista district attorney

CHULA VISTA, Calif. – Bart Miesfeld and Marco Verdugo were in the lead in early results in the special election for Chula Vista city attorney.

Tuesday’s election between Dan Smith Diaz, Bart Miesfeld and Marco Verdugo came after the unexpected death of the previously elected candidate left the position vacant.

To win overall, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote. If neither candidate meets the threshold, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff on March 5 next year. Whoever is elected will serve the remainder of the term, which runs until December 2026.

The late Simon Silva died of cancer during the November 2022 race after his name could not be removed from the ballot. He beat his opponent by 756 votes.

After Silva won, Chula Vista leaders began planning a special election, as required by city charter. However, the move sparked some controversy as local politicians were encouraged to still vote for Silva despite his death and the high cost of the election.

Chula Vista’s city attorney is the city’s highest-ranking attorney and runs a firm that provides legal and political advice to other elected officials. The main goal of these services is to support the city in developing and implementing policies City website.

The office works with all city boards and commissions. It also works with all Chula Vista city departments, including the city clerk’s office, public works, and police and fire departments.

FOX 5’s Danielle Dawson contributed to this report.