Daniel Smith Diaz is running for Chula Vista City Attorney in the special election on Nov. 7. Smith ran against Chula Vista Deputy City Attorney Simon Silva in 2022, who passed away shortly before the election. Being so close to the election, the City’s charter mandated Silva remain on the ballot, and Silva defeated Smith by 756 votes. He said he is not a politician, and that in this nonpartisan race, candidates should be judged on abilities, not age or political preference.
Smith Diaz has been practicing law for 33 years, is the founder of San Diego Defenders, which has been located across from the Chula Vista Courthouse for the past 15 years.
“I am a local lawyer,” he said. “I am here in Chula Vista. I am much more than a criminal defense lawyer. I have done much more than that. I’ve practiced everything from property law, worked as a prosecutor, a defense attorney. I do both civil and criminal and have done a plethora of cases all my life. My father was a judge, and in very much the same way, he practices in many different areas of law, and my grandfather did as well. I am a third-generation lawyer. It runs in my blood.”
Smith Diaz said his mother was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Diaz is his mother’s maiden name.
“In talking with many residents of Chula Vista, they wanted to know if I knew Latinos since the city has a large population of Latinos,” he said. “I am a Latino. Diaz should be on there. I married a Mexicana Layla Villegas Smith, my wife of 24 years, and my kids are running around with three-quarters Latino, and the last name of Smith. They had name changes and added Villegas, my wife’s maiden name. Many think that it is my wife’s side that is Latino, but I am one-half Puerto Rican.”
Smith Diaz moved to Chula Vista with his wife and three children in 2004. His children went to school from preschool to high school in Chula Vista. He said his major reason for running is that he cares for Chula Vista and sees areas that need improvement.
Smith Diaz has been practicing law for 33 years, is the founder of San Diego Defenders, which has been located across from the Chula Vista Courthouse for the past 12 years. “I am a local lawyer,” he said. “I am here in Chula Vista. I do not want to dig on my opponents, but I am all about Chula Vista, and I have my doubts if Chula Vistans know that one of the candidates moved to Chula Vista just in August and has never lived in Chula Vista as far as I can tell, and whether they have Chula Vista in their hearts. If they are part of the community and know about Chula Vista issues.”
Smith Diaz said one issue the city is dealing with now is Harborside Park.
“Harborside Park was all set to reopen,” he said. “I went to a couple of neighborhood meetings where the neighborhood kids showed up with their parents, and they were adamant that they really needed that park.”
Smith Diaz said there is a favorite quote from Frederick Douglass, “It is easier to build strong children than fix broken men.” He said this is an important issue. It was ready to open with a park ranger for security, in an area being run over by the homeless issue.
“At the May 16 (City Council) meeting, Councilmember (Andrea) Cardenas amended the vote to declare that surplus land,” he said. “In reading the Surplus Land Act, I see that affordable housing is important, but the second paragraph of Government Code 54220, states that the Legislature reaffirms its belief that there is an identifiable deficiency in the amount of land available for recreational purposes, and that surplus land prior to its disposition should be made available for recreational purposes.”
Smith Diaz said the interesting fact about that, is that the land dedicated as a park.
“Council tried to roll it into the Surplus Land Act, which is going to raise the question, is this land being made for recreational purposes because there is an identifiable deficiency of land available for parks,” he said. “It is almost a backdoor into the same question, whether this land should be a park. And it should. I have a real problem with that, and I would like to investigate whether this is being done properly if they continue pursuing if this park should be rezoned for housing purposes. First, it should be made available as a park. That is what it is needed for, certainly in that part of Chula Vista. What are we going to do with the children we are raising? They are going to be a part of this city.”
Smith Diaz said he understands that there is a homeless crisis, but there is also a crisis for children, getting the social skills they need to grow up, be well-rounded, to solve problems, and to become productive member of society.
Smith Diaz said the Chula Vista Bayfront, now in development, breaking ground on UniverCity in Millenia, and the building of the first new library since 1995, and space for the city’s first four-year university is “a great thing” for the city.
“I think this is something all of us Chula Vistans are excited about,” he said. “We have all wanted this for a long time. A tech-hub where you can bring in new businesses and get the feel of a college town and college campus. Getting all the technology companies there, students would be coming out of college and working for these entities. I think this is exciting and something that we need. It is a long way from Chula Vista to any four-year university. It would be fantastic to see vocational schools come back. We still need electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters, and good mechanics.”
Smith Diaz said as a Chula Vistan, raising his family here, and being a big part of the community, he thinks about Chula Vista and what is going on in San Diego.
“I think San Diego, quite frankly, is a big mess,” he said. “I worry about bringing the values of San Diego down to Chula Vista. San Diego has not managed their problems well, and I do not want Chula Vista turn into San Diego. The issue of CA Senate Bill 10 deals with the opt-in program that allows the city to allow up to 10 units to be built on a large residential lot. I think the citizens of Chula Vista need to know what SB10 is all about before Council decides to opt-in or not. I have been in real estate as a real estate salesman and broker. I get it. Real estate investment is important. Housing is important. But, if you put 10 units on a lot where there is no parking, and the only requirement is that you must be one mile from a proposed transit stop is ridiculous. I think the kind of chaos it would cause would be astronomical. I believe that if the residents want it, fine. But they need to know what they are getting into. SB10 could be a real game-changer, really changing the face of the city. Especially on the west side. That is where I think they would pile up on these lots close to my office,” adding that it would also affect communities like Hilltop, which is less than a mile from public transit. “My view is that citizens should be able to voice their thoughts to Council, so they have consensus. In talking to many voters, they do not believe their voices are being heard.”
Smith Diaz said that he will work to ensure public safety has proper funding, that businesses should not be “chased away by useless regulations.” He said the city should welcome startup companies by encouraging businesses and acting as a partner rather than a regulatory agency “that chokes” a small business during its first critical year.
“Mom and pop businesses are such a huge part of Chula Vista,” he said. “They really need to know that the city has their back. We should all work together to make it a great business community as possible so people will come here for services with our businesses,” adding that there are many production businesses that could move to Chula Vista rather than being manufactured elsewhere. “We would not have to drive to Mission Valley to go to work. And we all know everybody leaves Chula Vista in the morning and has a long commute in front of them.”
Smith Diaz said he has not sought individual endorsements from former or current politicians because he feels there is a “cost or expectation” in doing so.
