Friday, June 15, 2001
Page 3
Delgadillo Picks Mark Steinberg Of O’Melveny &_Myers to Head Transition Team
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Attorney Mark Steinberg of O’Melveny & Myers was named yesterday to lead City Attorney-elect Rocky Delgadillo’s transition team.
Steinberg said he planned to reach out to other members of the city’s legal community to help in a transition process that would leave Delgadillo ready to get things done in his new post.
“I see my role as helping the city attorney deliver on the issues he cares most about,” Steinberg said. “Safe schools. Neighborhoods.”
He said he was also “hoping to give him an early handle on the matters handed by a staff of 400 attorneys.”
Delgadillo, an O’Melveny associate before leaving to work for Rebuild L.A. and then Mayor Richard Riordan, pledged during his campaign to beef up after-school programs, cut red tape that slows school construction, and serve neighborhoods with local deputy city attorneys. He also vowed to cut city liability by a third.
Steinberg said he intended to help Delgadillo accomplish those goals and would stay on the team, directly involved in the office, for 30 to 60 days.
Delgadillo spokeswoman Kristina Scott said Steinberg also will make recommendations on office organization and select key personnel.
Steinberg has been closely associated with O’Melveny partner and former Secretary of State Warren Christopher. He served on Bill Clinton’s presidential transition team in 1992, a year after serving as deputy general counsel to the Christopher Commission investigating the Los Angeles Police Department.
On Clinton’s team, Steinberg worked with the Justice Department, preparing briefing papers to bring the attorney general-designate up to speed. He served on the Zoe Baird confirmation team, then the Janet Reno confirmation team when Baird’s nomination fell through.
He served in 1997 as the State Department’s special representative on missing and detained persons in the former Yugoslavia. He was appointed associate deputy attorney general in 1994 and became the first director of the Executive Office for National Security.
He is a graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., and Northwestern University School of Law. He has been a member of the State Bar of California since 1972.
Christopher was one of Delgadillo’s key endorsers in his campaign, which culminated with his June 5 victory over Councilman Mike Feuer. The new city attorney takes office July 1.
Delgadillo said in a statement that he selected Steinberg “because he is talented, honorable and accomplished, and has a proven track record for getting things done.”
Earlier this week, Delgadillo tapped Riordan Deputy Mayor Ann D’Amato, a non-attorney, to be his chief of staff.
Copyright 2001, Metropolitan News Company