Jan Goldsmith
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Jan Goldsmith
|image = File:Jangoldsmith.jpg
|office1 = City Attorney of San Diego
|term_start1 = 2008
|term_end1 = 2016
|predecessor1 = Mike Aguirre
|successor1 = Mara Elliott
|office2 = Judge of the San Diego Superior Court
|term_start2 = 1998
|term_end2 = December 2008[https://web.archive.org/web/20191128220039/https://fedsoc.org/contributors/jan-goldsmith Federalist Society Bio]
|state_assembly3 = California
|district3 = 75th
|term_start3 = December 7, 1992
|term_end3 = November 30, 1998
|predecessor3 = Dede Alpert[http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/5943 Dede Alpert - Democratic]
|successor3 = Charlene Zettel[http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/6079 Charlene Zettel - Republican]
|office4 = Mayor of Poway, California[https://web.archive.org/web/20191128220227/https://poway.org/176/Chronology-of-Mayors City of Poway Mayoral History]
|term_start4 = December 4, 1990
|term_end4 = November 3, 1992
|predecessor4 = Carl Kruse
|successor4 = Don Higginson, Jr.
|office5 = Deputy Mayor of Poway, California{{cite web |title=City Council History {{!}} Poway, CA - Official Website |url=https://poway.org/170/City-Council-History |website=poway.org |publisher=Poway, California |accessdate=27 September 2020}}
|term_start5 = December 5, 1989
|term_end5 = December 4, 1990
|predecessor5 = Linda Brannon
|successor5 = Bob Emery
|office6 = Member of the Poway City Council[https://web.archive.org/web/20191115192545/https://poway.org/170/City-Council-History City Council History]
|term_start6 = December 5, 1989
|term_end6 = November 3, 1992
|predecessor6 =
|successor6 =
|nationality = American
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|1|26}}
|birth_place = New Rochelle, New York, U.S.[https://books.google.com/books?id=kZchAQAAIAAJ&q=Jan+I.+Goldsmith+born+January+26,+1951 California Legislature at Sacramento (1997) - page 201]
|spouse = {{marriage|Christine|1974}}
|children = 3
|education = American University (BA)
University of San Diego (JD)
|party = Republican
}}
Jan Ira Goldsmith (born January 26, 1951) is a Republican politician from San Diego, California, United States who served as the San Diego City Attorney from 2008 to 2016.
Education
He received his undergraduate degree from American University in Washington, D.C. and his J.D. degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Career
Upon graduating from law school he worked in private practice specializing in business litigation. He was also a council member and mayor for the city of Poway, California.{{cite news|url=http://sdbj.com/news/2017/mar/19/former-city-attorney-jan-goldsmith-joins-procopio/|title=Former City Attorney Jan Goldsmith Joins Procopio|last=Cox|first=John|date=March 19, 2017|work=San Diego Business Journal|accessdate=20 March 2017}}
=California State Legislature=
Goldsmith was elected to three terms in the California state legislature, representing California's 75th State Assembly district from 1992 until 1998. The district covers Poway and other northern suburbs of San Diego County.
According to Goldsmith, his greatest legislative accomplishment had to do with juvenile justice. He chaired the Assembly subcommittee that put together a package of legislation that eventually became initiatives that the public got to vote on. He also felt foster care was another of his accomplishments. He was named legislator of the year for the Children’s Lobby. He carried the legislation that eliminated the bias against trans-racial adoption.{{cite news|url=http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/May-2008/Jan-Goldsmith/|title=Jan Goldsmith: interview with Tom Blair|date=May 2008|work=San Diego Magazine|accessdate=13 January 2013}}
Goldsmith was the author of two bills, in 1994 and 1997, that attempted to legalize ferrets as pets in California. However, the California Department of Fish and Game opposed any introduction of ferrets into the state, and the bills failed.{{cite web|url=http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/nuis_exo/ferret/ferret_issues_4.html|title=Ferret issues|work=Department of Fish and Game|publisher=State of California|accessdate=13 January 2013|archive-date=6 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106002945/http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/nuis_exo/ferret/ferret_issues_4.html|url-status=dead}}
=Superior Court judge=
Upon being term limited from the Assembly in 1998, Goldsmith made an unsuccessful bid for California State Treasurer, losing the primary to former Assembly Speaker Curt Pringle, who lost that election and went on to serve as mayor of Anaheim. Following his loss, Goldsmith became a San Diego County Superior Court judge, serving for 9½ years before stepping down to run for San Diego City Attorney.
=San Diego City Attorney=
{{see also|2008 San Diego City Attorney election|2012 San Diego City Attorney election}}
Goldsmith ran for San Diego City attorney in 2008. In the June primary he received the most votes (32.2%) among five candidates, but not a majority.{{cite web|url=http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/voters/Eng/archive/200806bull.pdf|title=City of San Diego Attorney|work=Direct Primary Election, June 3, 2008|publisher=San Diego County Registrar of Voters|accessdate=13 January 2013}} In the November runoff he defeated incumbent City Attorney Mike Aguirre, 59.4% to 40.4%.{{cite web|url=http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/voters/Eng/archive/200811bull.pdf|title=City of San Diego Attorney|work=General Election, Tuesday, November 4, 2008|publisher=San Diego County Registrar|accessdate=13 January 2013}} In 2012 he was re-elected without opposition.{{cite web|url=http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/voters/Eng/archive/201206bull.pdf|title=City of San Diego Attorney|work=Presidential Primary Election, June 5, 2012|publisher=San Diego County Registrar of Voters|accessdate=13 January 2013}}
In 2010 Goldsmith's office threatened the owners of a local restaurant with fines and jail for charging a fixed service charge instead of tipping; the issue was whether they were violating state disclosure laws. The city attorney later dropped the issue and did not pursue the case.{{cite news|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/06/linkery-off-hook-over-mandatory-tip-policy/|title=Linkery off hook over mandatory-tip policy|last=Showley|first=Roger|date=March 6, 2010|work=San Diego Union Tribune|accessdate=27 August 2013}}
In 2013, Goldsmith was criticized by Mayor Bob Filner for prosecuting Jeff Olson for chalking anti-bank slogans on city sidewalks outside Bank of America branches, calling it "a stupid case" and a waste of city money.{{cite news|title=San Diego mayor, city attorney in dust-up over chalk vandalism case|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-chalk-dispute-20130629,0,2268535.story|date=June 2013|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=1 July 2013}} The prosecution was ultimately unsuccessful.{{cite web|last=Perry|first=Tony|title=San Diego jury acquits chalk protester in sidewalk graffiti case|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-chalk-protester-20130702,0,5268242.story|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=4 July 2013|date=1 July 2013|quote=That Bank of America had contacted the city attorney's office to urge prosecution had become part of the dispute between the Democratic mayor and Republican city attorney.}} With the defendant refusing a plea bargain, facing up to 13 years in jail and US$13,000.00 in fines, Judge Howard Shore admonished Olson's attorney, Tom Tosdal, from mentioning the First Amendment and political speech references during the trial. Additionally, Judge Shore issued a gag order, preventing communications with the media concerning the trial.{{cite web|last=Hargrove|first=Dorian|title=Judge issues gag order in case of man prosecuted for scribbling anti-bank messages in chalk|url=http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/news-ticker/2013/jun/27/judge-issues-gag-order-in-case-of-man-prosecuted-f/|publisher=San Diego Reader|accessdate=4 July 2013|date=27 June 2013|quote=The decision is in addition to a previous ruling from Shore which prohibits Olson's attorney Tom Tosdal from mentioning the First Amendment, free speech, free expression, public forum, expressive conduct, or political speech during the trial.}}
Goldsmith and Filner were in conflict almost from the day Filner took office, over several issues including medical marijuana, tourism funding, cuts to the City Attorney budget, road paving bonds, and the presence of Goldsmith's aide at a confidential city meetings.{{Cite web|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jun/21/mayor-filner-city-attorney-goldsmith-feud-hp/#&panel1-1|title = The San Diego Union-Tribune - San Diego, California & National News}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jul/01/filner-goldsmith-feud-ends-closed-sessions/|title = The San Diego Union-Tribune - San Diego, California & National News}} Goldsmith was a key figure in the August 2013 mediated negotiations that led to Filner's agreeing to resign.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/21/us/san-diego-mayor-bob-filner-deal/index.html|title=San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, city reach mediation deal, city attorney says|last=Wian|first=Casey|date=August 21, 2013|work=CNN|accessdate=27 August 2013}}
Goldsmith left the City Attorney's office in 2016 as a result of term limits.
=Post-political career=
Electoral history
=Poway City Council=
{{Election box begin no party no change| title=1988 Poway City Council at-large election (2 seats){{cite web |title=
{{Election box winning candidate no party no change
|candidate = Jan Goldsmith
|votes = 8,709
|percentage = 23.81
}}
{{Election box winning candidate no party no change
|candidate = Bob Emery (incumbent)
|votes = 7,984
|percentage = 21.82
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
|candidate = Lawrence V. Valente
|votes = 6,687
|percentage = 18.28
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
|candidate = Gordon Meyer
|votes = 4,968
|percentage = 13.58
}}
{{Election box total no party no change
|votes = 36,582
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
=California State Assembly=
;1992
{{Election box begin no change | title=1992 California State Assembly district 75 Republican primary{{cite web |title=STATEMENT OF VOTE Primary Election June 2, 1992 |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/1992-primary/sov-complete.pdf |publisher= California Secretary of State |accessdate=27 September 2020 }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jan Goldsmith
|votes = 26,084
|percentage = 49.27
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Connie Youngkin
|votes = 14,987
|percentage = 28.31
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Ken Harrell
|votes = 8,668
|percentage = 16.37
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Mike Schaefer
|votes = 3,200
|percentage = 6.04
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 52,939
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=1992 California State Assembly district 75 election{{cite web |title=STATEMENT OF VOTE General Election November 3, 1992 |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/1992-general/sov-complete.pdf |publisher= California Secretary of State |accessdate=27 September 2020 }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jan Goldsmith
|votes = 100,858
|percentage = 64.47
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Dante Cosentino
|votes = 42,375
|percentage = 27.09
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = J. C. Anderson
|votes = 6,282
|percentage = 4.02
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Peace and Freedom Party
|candidate = Alfredo R. Felix
|votes = 3,037
|percentage = 1.94
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Green Party (United States)
|candidate = Daniel Ford Tarr
|votes = 3,899
|percentage = 2.49
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 156,451
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
;1994
{{Election box begin no change | title=1994 California State Assembly district 75 Republican primary{{cite web |title=STATEMENT OF VOTE June 7, 1994 Primary Election |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/1994-primary/sov-complete.pdf |publisher= California Secretary of State |accessdate=27 September 2020 }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jan Goldsmith (incumbent)
|votes = 38,299
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 38,299
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=1994 California State Assembly district 75 election{{cite web |title=STATEMENT OF VOTE November 8, 1994, General Election |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/1994-general/sov-complete.pdf |publisher= California Secretary of State |accessdate=27 September 2020 }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jan Goldsmith (incumbent)
|votes = 91,109
|percentage = 70.02
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Katherine Wodehouse
|votes = 31,145
|percentage = 23.94
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = J. C. Anderson
|votes = 4,768
|percentage = 3.66
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Peace and Freedom Party
|candidate = Ann Archer
|votes = 3,037
|percentage = 2.38
}}
{{Election box end}}
;1996
{{Election box begin no change | title=1996 California State Assembly district 75 Republican primary{{cite web |title=March 26, 1996 Primary Election STATEMENT OF VOTE |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/1996-primary/sov-complete.pdf |publisher= California Secretary of State |accessdate=27 September 2020 }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jan Goldsmith (incumbent)
|votes = 44,708
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 44,708
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=1996 California State Assembly district 75 election{{cite web |title=Statement of Vote November 5, 1996 |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/1996-general/sov-complete.pdf |publisher= California Secretary of State |accessdate=27 September 2020 }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jan Goldsmith (incumbent)
|votes = 106,944
|percentage = 71.62
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Adrian S Kwiatkowski
|votes = 35,805
|percentage = 23.98
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Natural Law Party (United States)
|candidate = William S. Cowling
|votes = 6,573
|percentage = 4.40
}}
{{Election box end}}
=California State Treasurer=
{{Election box begin no change | title=1998 California State Treasurer Republican primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Curt Pringle
|votes = 1,506,892
|percentage = 62.20
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jan Goldsmith
|votes = 915,787
|percentage = 37.80
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 2,422,679
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
=San Diego City Attorney=
| class=wikitable
!colspan=5|2008 San Diego City Attorney election |
| colspan=1 rowspan=2 |Candidate |
|---|
| Votes
!% !Votes !% |
| Jan Goldsmith
| align="right" | 68,326 | align="right" | 32.22 | align="right" | 278,830 | align="right" | 52.89 |
| Michael J. Aguirre (incumbent)
| align="right" | 61,257 | align="right" | 28.89 | align="right" | 189,628 | align="right" | 40.38 |
| Scott Peters
| align="right" | 43,295 | align="right" | 20.42 | colspan=2 bgcolor=darkgray | |
| Brian Maienschein
| align="right" | 26,267 | align="right" | 12.39 | colspan=2 bgcolor=darkgray | |
| Amy J. Lepine
| align="right" | 12,687 | align="right" | 5.98 | colspan=2 bgcolor=darkgray | |
| Total
! 212,035 ! 100 ! 469,663 ! 100 |
{{Election box begin no party no change| title=2012 San Diego City Attorney election{{cite web |title=COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION Tuesday, June 5, 2012 Official Results (San Diego Portion Only) Report # 23 |url=https://www.sdvote.com/content/dam/rov/en/archive/201206bull.pdf |publisher= San Diego County |date=2 July 2012 |accessdate=27 September 2020 }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate no party no change
|candidate = Jan Goldsmith (incumbent)
|votes = 182,787
|percentage = 97.82
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
|candidate = Write-ins
|votes = 4,066
|percentage = 2.18
}}
{{Election box total no party no change
|votes = 186,853
|percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
External links
- [https://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/5971 Join California Jan Goldsmith]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldsmith, Jan}}
Category:Republican Party members of the California State Assembly
Category:University of San Diego School of Law alumni
Category:Mayors of places in California
Category:People from Poway, California
Category:American University alumni
Category:San Diego city attorneys
Category:21st-century American judges
Category:21st-century American lawyers
Category:21st-century California politicians
Category:20th-century members of the California State Legislature