Huntington Beach’s City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 18, appointed Mike Vigliotta its new city attorney, tapped to lead an office that is defending itself against a myriad of lawsuits brought by the state attempting to temper the city’s defiance.
Vigliotta will replace Michael Gates, who announced last week that he will leave City Hall to become a deputy assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice. Gates, who was not at Tuesday’s meeting, had recommended the Council appoint Vigliotta as his replacement.
Vigliotta was the former chief assistant city attorney for Huntington Beach but left the city in 2023 to become Orange’s city attorney.
“He’s done a remarkable job in the city of Orange,” said Councilmember Tony Strickland. “In fact, a lot of council colleagues, friends of mine in Orange, are mad that we are taking you back here in Huntington Beach.”
Vigliotta will inherit an office waging legal battles and defending itself against the state on several issues, including housing, voter ID, an audit of the city’s air show settlement and immigration law.
Huntington Beach’s city attorney is an elected position, and Gates has held the job since 2014. Vigliotta will hold the job at least until the position is up for election again in 2026.
“We have a lot of fights that we need to win for the people of Huntington Beach, and I have the utmost faith that you are going to do a remarkable job,” Strickland said.
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