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Attorney walks Compton council through city charter, explains why city attorney position is now appointed
Summary
At a Jan. 27 presentation, an attorney from Richards Watson & Gershon gave a line-by-line overview of Compton’s charter—covering powers, elections, and procedures—and noted a 2024 charter amendment changed the city attorney from an elected to an appointed office.
Attorney Diaz, a shareholder with Richards Watson & Gershon, told the Compton City Council on Jan. 27 that the city charter functions as the municipality’s local constitution and explained how it differs from state general-law provisions. Diaz said the presentation was informational and not legal advice, and she walked council members through Articles 1–5 of the charter, emphasizing continuity of preexisting ordinances, contracts and pending litigation after the city’s conversion to a charter city in the 1920s.
Diaz summarized Article 3 provisions that preserve prior contracts and public improvements and protect civil-service rights when the city transitioned into a charter city. She told the council that such provisions mean existing lawful ordinances and liabilities remain in effect unless specifically amended or repealed by the city.
On Article 4, Diaz said the charter grants Compton broad authority to make and enforce municipal rules, subject to limitations where state law addresses matters of statewide concern. “Charter cities derive their corporate powers directly from the California Constitution,” she said, and she noted that courts ultimately decide whether an issue is a municipal affair or a statewide concern.
In the longest portion of her presentation Diaz described Article 5, which sets elective officers and terms. She said the charter provides for a five-member council (four district members plus a mayor elected at large), four-year terms, and rules for vacancies. She also explained the charter’s mechanism to expand the council to seven members should the city’s population exceed 100,000: adoption of a finding ordinance followed by districting and special/final elections for new seats.
Diaz also flagged recent charter amendments affecting election schedules and the city attorney’s role. She said Measure CA, which the Secretary of State filed Jan. 7, 2025, converted the city attorney from an elected to an appointed position and that the incumbent at the time voluntarily resigned; because the office is now appointed, the charter’s vacancy rules for elected offices do not apply.
The presentation concluded after council members asked procedural clarifying questions. The council did not take legal action during the presentation; Diaz reiterated the remarks were informational and that any legal advice would require an attorney–client setting.
