Profiles in Public Law: An Interview with Jan Goldsmith

By Carmen Cave^*

Editor’s Note: Jan Goldsmith recently completed his second term as the San Diego City Attorney. Goldsmith served previously as a Poway City Councilmember and Mayor, then served three terms in the California State Assembly where he held various leadership positions including Majority Floor Leader, Member of Rules Committee, Chairman of the Banking and Finance Committee and Vice Chairman of Judiciary. He served in the third branch of government as a San Diego Superior Court Judge from 1998 through December 2008. He is married to the Honorable Christine Goldsmith, ret.

Cave: You’ve worked in all three branches of government. How did serving as mayor prepare you for the Assembly?

Goldsmith: As Assemblyman I was able to see issues from the perspective of local communities and understood how local governments struggle to deal with state mandates. I spent considerable time in Sacramento stopping new mandates and trying to return powers to localities. I continue to have high respect for local government as the best form of governance because it is closest to the people.