Marco Verdugo is the son of Mexican immigrants, a devoted husband and father, a longtime community volunteer, and now Chula Vista’s City Attorney. Marco was elected to protect our families, strengthen public safety, and ensure our city’s laws truly reflect the values of our diverse community.

 

Marco’s experience is both deeply professional and deeply personal. He interned for the Chula Vista City Attorney’s Office while in law school and went on to build a career in public agency law. Before being elected City Attorney, he served as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of San Diego and later for the cities of Solana Beach and Coronado. These roles gave him a clear understanding of how cities work — and how they sometimes fall short — shaping the proactive, community-focused approach he brings to Chula Vista today.

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As City Attorney, Marco has delivered real results. He strengthened public safety by enforcing Gun Violence Restraining Orders, preventing dangerous situations before they escalated. He brought accountability to City Hall by hiring an independent auditor and modernizing outdated laws, including overhauls to the city’s campaign finance rules and new safety standards for e-bikes. Marco rebuilt a City Attorney’s Office that had been thinned by retirements, restoring stability, professionalism, and a renewed focus on ethics and transparency. He has also led major legal work on issues ranging from community services and land-use updates to the reopening of Harborside Park. His leadership has reshaped the office into a stronger, more effective advocate for Chula Vista residents.

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Throughout his legal career — long before he took office — Marco was known as a trusted legal advisor who helped city officials draft, revise, and defend local laws. His dedication to justice has always extended beyond his day job: he has provided pro bono assistance to low-income families and volunteered at Casa Cornelia, helping refugees and asylum seekers secure fair hearings and the chance at a better life.

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Marco lives in East Chula Vista with his wife and their three children, who proudly attend Chula Vista’s public schools. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from San Diego State University and a law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.