FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August
14, 2001
Contact:
Diane Thomas
714.834.6203
Ben de Mayo Named
County Counsel
(Santa Ana) - Benjamin
de Mayo, a County attorney for 24 years, was today unanimously
named County Counsel by the Board of Supervisors. De Mayo
succeeds Laurence Watson who recently retired. De Mayo,
51, has headed the County's litigation team of 39 attorneys
for nearly a year. For seven years prior to that, he led
County Counsel's land use/infrastructure team. County
Counsel has a staff of 98 including 61attorneys. De Mayo
reports directly to the Board of Supervisors.
De Mayo was the first legal advisor to the County's public
finance office during its development and issuance of
more than $1 billion in housing revenue bonds.
His litigation and advisement experience includes all
major areas of public law including land use, construction,
real property, elections, conflicts of interest, Public
Records Act, Ralph M. Brown Open Meeting Act, Joint Exercise
of Powers Act, Tort Claims Act, taxation, housing, personnel
and environmental law.
"Ben was the ideal candidate for this position,"
said Cynthia P. Coad, Chair of the Board of Supervisors.
"He has vast knowledge of the County and of the law.
His leadership has been strong, and his keen analytical
sense has benefited this Board on many occasions. He's
going to be an even greater resource to us in his new
job."
De Mayo received a bachelor's degree from the University
of Southern California (USC) and his law degree from USC's
law school.
The appointment is effective August 24. His salary will
be $162,406.
Legal