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An assistant county executive in San Mateo County is poised to become Mountain View’s next city attorney, with the City Council announcing Thursday that it would vote next week to hire Justin Mates for the position.
The appointment is scheduled for the council’s Nov. 10 meeting. Mates would begin work Jan. 4 with an annual starting salary of $400,000, according to a city news release.
“[Mates] brings a unique combination of skills and experience, from serving as a local government attorney to a senior executive in municipal government,” Mayor Emily Ann Ramos said in the news release. “We were seeking an accomplished attorney who can navigate complex legal and public policy matters.”
The City Council has been looking to fill the position since June, when Gov. Gavin Newsom tapped former city attorney Jennifer Logue to serve as a judge on the Contra Costa County Superior Court.
The city attorney represents and advises the City Council, advisory bodies and city departments on legal issues, overseeing a staff of six attorneys, two code enforcement officers and three legal support staff, according to the news release.
Mates has worked for San Mateo County since 2012, when he began as a deputy county attorney specializing in public finance and tax, real estate and litigation, according to the news release. In January, Mates was promoted to the position of assistant county executive, previously serving for six years as a deputy county executive.
As a senior member of San Mateo County’s executive team, Mates worked on several high stakes issues, including the pandemic and a homelessness response strategy, the news release said. Mates also provided counsel on the county’s $226 million vehicle license fee shortfall, impacting 20 cities in San Mateo County.
“I am honored to serve the City of Mountain View as its next city attorney and join a city that is so well aligned with my goals and values as a local government professional,” Mates said in the news release. “I am excited to be returning to serving as a municipal attorney where I can provide creative solutions to achieve Mountain View’s goals.”
Mates holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Stanford University and a law degree from Harvard Law School.
The city attorney is one of three positions appointed by the City Council. The council also appoints the city manager and city clerk. Currently, Jannie Quinn is serving as Mountain View’s interim city attorney.
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