Santa Monica Lookout

B e s t l o c a l s o u r c e f o r n e w s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n

Santa Monica Hires New City Clerk

By Lookout Staff

August 1, 2012 -- Santa Monica has hired Santa Clarita City Clerk Sarah Gorman to fill the vacancy left after Maria Stewart resigned earlier this year from the post she held for two decades.

Mayor Richard Bloom said the 38-year-old Gorman -- one of 80 applicants -- was uniquely qualified for the $160,000 post by the City Council, which hires only the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk.

City Clerk Sarah Gorman Photo Courtesy of City of Santa Monica

“Ms. Gorman’s experience, education and focus on civic engagement are strengths that will allow her to serve the Santa Monica community with distinction for many years to come," Bloom said in a statement Tuesday.

"She impressed us with her dedication to customer service and use of innovative technology to make government transparent for the community. The depth of her background in elections and records management makes her well qualified on all fronts.”

During her two years as City Clerk of Santa Clarita, Gorman administered stand-alone elections and provided clerk services for Council meetings and study sessions, City officials said.

She also "administers records management, oversees city mail services, supervises the Risk Management division, oversees the contracts for City Attorney, insurance issues and compliance with safety regulations," officials said.

Before entering the public sector, Gorman worked for Burke, Williams & Sorensen LLP from 2005 to 2009 specializing in election law, ethics law and public records law.

From 2001 to 2005, Gorman worked for Kaufman Downing LLP as an Associate Attorney "providing guidance on election law, conflict of interest and campaign finance law," according to a statement issued by the City.

She was an Associate Attorney and Law Clerk from 1998 to 2001 at the firm of Robie & Matthai ACP.

Gorman received a Juris Doctor legal degree from the University of Southern California in 1999. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English Literature from the University of Southern California in 1996. She and her husband, Douglas, have a daughter.