About the City Attorneys

Andy became Ventura’s City Attorney in March 2022. He joined the City Attorney's Office in July 2019 as the Senior Assistant City Attorney – Transactional, after serving with the City Attorney’s Office in Bakersfield, California. He received his bachelor's degree from Pensacola Christian College in 1995 and his law degree from Regent University in 2002. 

Professionally, Andy spent his early years in private law practice in Los Angeles and Bakersfield, specializing in litigation. After joining the Bakersfield City Attorney's Office in 2011, Andy found that his true passion is municipal law, and he was able to exercise that passion as the legal advisor to the Planning Commission and the Planning and Public Works Departments.

Before becoming the City Attorney, Andy worked primarily with the City’s Community Development Department, advising the Planning Commission and other planning boards and commissions.

Andy and his family love Ventura and are blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful community.

Andy graduated from Hofstra University in New York with a bachelor of arts degree in political science in 1982 and from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law in 1985 with his law degree.  He was admitted to the State Bar of California in December 1986.

Mr. Viets is a thirty-five-year resident of Ventura County.  He started practicing law in Ventura in January 1987, first as a workers’ compensation defense attorney and soon thereafter in the field of civil litigation, which included defending various public entities in civil lawsuits. After many years practicing with a firm in Ventura, he opened his own office in 2006, specializing in civil litigation, which included representing public entities. He joined Norman Dowler, LLP, in Ventura in April 2007, where his practice continued to focus on civil litigation, serving as the head of the firm’s litigation department. 

Mr. Viets began working for the City Attorney’s Office in 2008, first as an Assistant City Attorney and then as the Senior Assistant City Attorney – Litigation since 2012.  In this capacity, he oversees the City’s Litigation Division, which litigates civil and criminal cases, weapons forfeiture matters and Pitchess motions.  He also participates in administrative hearings, responds to subpoenas and public records requests, and provides transactional services/legal advice regarding employment law and law enforcement issues.

Miles joined the City Attorney's office in 2016, first as an Assistant City Attorney II and then as the Senior Assistant City Attorney – Transactional since April 2022. In that capacity, he oversees the City’s Transactional Division. In additional to general municipal law, he specializes in water, wastewater. and environmental law, and advises the Ventura Water department and the City’s Water Commission. Miles previously worked for a private law firm representing cities and other public agencies.

Miles volunteers with the California Lawyers Association (CLA), the nonprofit, statewide association for licensed California attorneys. He serves on the Executive Committee for CLA’s Environmental Law Section and on CLA’s Governance Committee.  He is also a member of the Ventura County Bar Association.

Miles received his bachelor of science degree in marine biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his law degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law, graduating with the school's Environmental Law Certificate and Public Interest Law Certificate. He was the inaugural fellow for the California Environmental Law & Policy Center and now serves on its Advisory Board of Directors. Prior to law school, Miles participated in an AmeriCorps Program called City Year, and he highly recommends young adults consider a year of service with AmeriCorps. Miles lives in Ventura and enjoys running, going to the beach, and eating at local restaurants.

Dirk joined the City Attorney's office in September 2015. He graduated from UCLA in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and received his law degree from Pepperdine University in 1996. 

Dirk defends the City in civil litigation matters in both state and federal courts and prosecutes misdemeanor cases and code enforcement matters. Prior to working for the City, he worked for a private law office representing multiple public entities in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties.

Monica I. De La Hoya is an Assistant City Attorney II - Transactional. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s office in 2022, Monica practiced farmworker labor law at the Agricultural Labor Relations Board and legal aid at the California Rural Legal Assistance in Oxnard. Monica has been practicing law since 2008. She majored in English at California State University, Los Angeles and graduated from Southwestern Law School. During law school, Monica was a visiting student at Lewis & Clark in Portland, Oregon and Universidad de Guanajuato in Mexico. She is fluent in Spanish. Monica was a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer on the island of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia from 2001-2003. She resides in Ventura with her husband and son who attends dual immersion school. Monica enjoys reading award winning fiction and outings with friends and very large extended family. She and her family are grateful to live in Ventura.

Chris joined the transactional team of the City Attorney’s Office in November of 2022. Prior to his tenure with the City, he worked for California Rural Legal Assistance in Oxnard, representing and advising aggrieved tenants and employees; and later in private practice in Santa Barbara, on behalf of a wide range of individuals and businesses.

Chris graduated from UC Berkeley in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Dramatic Art and has performed in dozens of regional theater productions as well as the occasional voice-over job. He acquired his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law, where he won a CALI award for excellence in First Amendment law.

Chris enjoys cooking, binge-watching science fiction shows with his wife, and reading stories about princesses and fairies to his young daughter.

Yesania joined the City Attorney's Office in July 2022. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree from University of California, Santa Barbara in Spanish Literature and received her law degree from California School of Law in 2020. Before joining the City Attorney’s Office, she worked for the City for over 11 years serving in various departments including Public Works, City Manager’s Office, Finance, and Community Development.

Susan Marquez began working for the City Attorney's Office in 1999. Since coming to the City, Susan has held a number of important roles in the office including office administrator and manager. 

Susan has 37 years of experience in civil litigation, working for various private law practices in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. She is a member of the Ventura County Paralegal Association.  Previously, she was an active member of the Ventura County Legal Secretaries Association and held various posts within that organization. She received her Paralegal Certificate from the University of California, Santa Barbara. 

Susan and her husband have two grown children and enjoy family time and traveling.

Johanna Johnsen began working with the City in October 2015. She received an associate of science degree in administration of justice from Ventura College and later earned her paralegal certification through the National Association of Legal Assistants. She has over 25 years of legal experience, mostly in private law practices, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to work in public service.  She is also a Notary Public for the State of California. She was born and raised in Oxnard.

Sophia Garcia joined the City Attorney’s Office in March 2022. She received her bachelor of arts degree in sociology with an emphasis in criminal justice from California State University, Channel Islands. Sophia brings her more than 8 years of combined work experience working for the County of Ventura and County of Riverside within social services, law enforcement, and public works agencies to the City Attorney’s Office. She is passionate about public sector work and is thrilled to be promoting public service. In her free time, Sophia enjoys going to the beach, traveling, and attending yoga and CrossFit classes.