Ms. Vasquez has served as the city attorney for the City of Gardena since January 2020. She also serves as a deputy city attorney for the cities of Whittier, Fullerton, and Costa Mesa and as general counsel for the Interoperability Network of the South Bay Joint Powers Agency. On a daily basis she works directly with City staff to identify and solve problems. Ms. Vasquez has extensive experience in handling and advising clients in most areas of municipal law, including, but not limited to, the Brown Act, Political Reform Act, Fair Political Practices Commission regulations, conflict of interest law, election law, Public Records Act, risk management, labor and employment law, public contracting, and competitive bidding requirements.
Ms. Vasquez is also a skilled litigator with experience representing municipalities. She has successfully represented numerous public entities on matters such as municipal tort liability, contracts, civil rights, Anti-SLAPP motions, code enforcement, public nuisance abatement injunction proceedings against illegal marijuana dispensaries, and defense of police officers and police agencies in civil rights actions. Ms. Vasquez has successfully tried several cases.
Ms. Vasquez graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2000 with a bachelor of science degree in political science and a minor in Spanish. She went on to receive her juris doctor from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, in 2003.
Ms. Vasquez serves as the chairman for the Downey Kiwanis Foundation. She and her husband enjoy traveling and spending time with their dog Chomperz.
Ms. Vasquez is fluent in Spanish.