Proven Leader

A Huntington Beach Local

Jennifer McGrath is a proven and experienced leader in the Huntington Beach community.  She is a highly capable and creative problem-solver.  Since 1994, Jennifer has been dedicated to her hometown, the City of Huntington Beach.  As a native of Surf City, Jennifer understands the needs of our community.  She is proud to be raising her two children, Paul and Halen, in Huntington Beach and it is critical to her that our City is safe and our quality of life is protected.

Jennifer McGrath attended local elementary schools, including Sowers Middle School and Edison High School, and returned home after law school.  Ultimately, she completed her undergraduate degree at U.C.L.A. while working in the insurance industry and graduated from the highly-regarded McGeorge School of Law in the top 5% of her class.  She continues to be enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve her hometown.

Jennifer is also an active participant in the Huntington Beach Kiwanis Club and Soroptimists International of Huntington Beach.

Qualifications

Jennifer McGrath has been serving as your Huntington Beach City Attorney since her election in 2002, after previously working as a Deputy City Attorney.  When she took office, she pledged to utilize her established relationships and problem-solving skills to improve service levels to the City Council, staff and the community.  She has maintained that commitment and has met and exceeded this goal by:

  • Establishing and maintaining a form of aggressive, yet cost-effective, litigation;
  • Reorganizing the office to create a pro-active Advisory Division to reduce the filing of frivolous litigation against the City thereby
  • Improving the overall quality of service the City provides to the citizens of Huntington Beach;
  • Implementing the technological tools, including law office management software and use of the Internet, to improve communication with the staff, City Council and the public;
  • Continuing to provide pro-active legal advice on a daily basis to City staff and City Council to minimize the likelihood of litigation and reduce the use of outside counsel; and
  • Maintaining a City-wide training program to improve compliance with state and local law at all levels of the organization, including Ethics, the Brown Act, Public Records Act, and Contract Preparation.

During her tenure in office as your City Attorney, Jennifer McGrath has demonstrated her commitment to the Huntington Beach community by:

  • Establishing a philosophy and reputation of aggressive defense of litigation resolving multiple cases early in the process;
  • Reducing the reliance on expensive outside counsel;
  • Streamlining processes and procedures;
  • Actively participating in negotiation of fair labor contracts balancing the interests of the taxpayers and the employees;
  • Supporting Redevelopment Agency negotiations for multiple projects, including Bella Terra, Pacific City, and the Strand; and
  • Providing on-going legal advice to 14 City Departments, including Public Works, Police, Fire, and Community Services.

Jennifer McGrath is skilled and talented at inter-departmental teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.

She is enthusiastic and committed to winning the election in November.  If re-elected, Jennifer McGrath will continue to be Your Partner in City Government.