Rockard "Rocky" John Delgadillo (born July 15, 1960, in Los Angeles,
California) is the former
Democratic City Attorney of Los Angeles. In June 2009, he announced his candidacy for the statewide office of attorney general, the seat being vacated by
Democrat Jerry Brown, who is running for governor, in the
2010 election.
[1] He went on to lose the
Democratic nomination to San Francisco District Attorney
Kamala Harris on Tuesday,
June 8, 2010 after placing fifth with a little over ten percent of the vote.
Education
- Graduated from Franklin High School
- Bachelor's degree, Harvard University (1982) with honors
- Juris Doctorate, Columbia Law School (1986)
Professional experience
Upon receiving his law degree, Delgadillo was aboard the Los Angeles-based private practice firm of O'Melveny & Meyers as a senior attorney. In the wake of the Los Angeles riots, he was tapped by future Clinton Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, to serve as Director of Business Development for the nonprofit organization, Rebuild LA. Delgadillo later joined the Office of Mayor Richard Riordan as Deputy Mayor of Economic Development, working to create jobs and economic growth within the city.
Controversies
Medical marijuana
Delgadillo is routinely blamed for the spike in medical marijuana storefronts located near Los Angeles schools, parks, and residences, in spite of the city's moratorium on the opening of new storefront dispensaries. The Interim Control Ordinance, drafted by Delgadillo's office in late-2007, included what some consider to be a gaping loophole known as a "hardship" exception, which grants immunity "for those firms already in business and registered with the city." [2] Over five hundred dispensaries to date have applied for exemption from the ordinance.
Staff use
In June 2007, Delgadillo admitted to requesting his office staff to run errands on his behalf and to baby-sit his two children. While the city attorney's office claimed these government employees performed these duties on their own personal time and were often paid by Delgadillo, some staff members who argued otherwise said these demands were made during normal business hours. [3] If true, it would violate the Los Angeles County Municipal Code Section 49.5.5, which states that "no city official ... shall use his or her position or prospective position, or the power of authority of his or her office or position, in any manner intended to induce or coerce any person to provide, directly or indirectly, anything of value which shall accrue to the private advantage, benefit, or economic gain, of the city official or employee, or of any other person." [4]
State car use
In 2004, Michelle Delgadillo, wife of the Los Angeles City Attorney, backed her husband's city-issued GMC Yukon into a pole, resulting in over a thousand dollars in damages. Not only was she found to have been driving the city-owned vehicle with a suspended license, the Los Angeles Times published an article that said that she still had an "outstanding arrest warrant for failing to appear in court in connection to a 1998 traffic citation." After going to court and pleading no contest to the charges, she was given a year probation and a $431 fine. At the time of the accident, Delgadillo had the car repaired at the city's expense. It wasn't until three years later, when public watchdog organizations accused him of misusing taxpayer funds that he reimbursed the city of Los Angeles for $1,222 for the repairs. The City Attorney's credibility plummeted as a direct result of these admissions at the same time he was arguing that "Paris Hilton should spend more time in jail for driving with a suspended license and violating her probation on alcohol-related reckless driving charges." [5]
Tax problems
Delgadillo's wife, Michelle, served as founder and president of her own consulting firm, C.R.D. Inc., which she operated out of the couple's home. Economic disclosure forms filed by the city attorney show that for three years, starting in 2002, her business "generated between $10,000 and $100,000 a year." Although she reported her income during that period on her personal income tax returns, she failed to do so on her business forms. As a result, the state-operated Franchise Tax Board barred her from operating within the state of California. For the next two years, Michelle Delgadillo continued to run her business in spite of the absence of a tax registration certificate. [6]
Campaign contribution
| 2006 Race for Attorney General - Campaign Contributions
|
| Total Raised
|
$4,958,614
|
| Total Raised by Primary Opponent
|
$8,268,057
|
| Total Raised by Gen. Election Opponent
|
N/A
|
| Top 5 Contributors
|
Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16/UA $15,500 (0.31% of Total)
|
California Association of Highway Patrolmen/CAHP $11,200 (0.23%)
|
Heat & Frost Insulators and Asbestos $11,100 (0.22%)
|
United Fire Fighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 $11,100 (0.22%)
|
| Laborers Local 300 $11,100 (0.22%)
|
| Individuals v. Institutions
|
$3,248,546 (65.5%)
|
| $1,606,166 (32.4%)
|
| In v. Outside State
|
$4,437,801 (90.9%)
|
| $445,080 (9.1%)
|
Elections
2001
| 2001 Race for Los Angeles City Attorney - Primary Election [7]
|
| Candidates
|
Percentage
|
 Mike Feuer
|
39.3%
|
| Rocky Delgadillo
|
38.0%
|
| Lea Purwin D'Agostino
|
15.6%
|
| Frank L. Tavelman
|
7.1%
|
| Total votes
|
467,130
|
| 2001 Race for Los Angeles City Attorney - General Election [8]
|
| Candidates
|
Percentage
|
| Rocky Delgadillo
|
52.4%
|
| Mike Feuer
|
47.6%
|
| Total votes
|
542,765
|
2005
- 2005 Race for Los Angeles City Attorney - Primary and General Election
- Rocky Delgadillo ran unopposed in both contests
2006
| 2006 Race for Attorney General - Democratic Primary Election [9]
|
| Candidates
|
Percentage
|
| Jerry Brown (D)
|
63.3%
|
| Rocky Delgadillo (D)
|
36.7%
|
| Total votes
|
2,456,498
|
2010
- See also: California Attorney General election, 2010
Personal
Delgadillo currently resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife, Michelle, and their two children - Christian and Preston.
External links
References
Mike Feuer
