By 2UrbanGirls
Contributing Writer
COMPTON — Former Mayor Eric Perrodin was appointed the new city attorney on a 3-0 vote with two abstentions during the Oct. 26 City Council meeting.
“I’m humbled by the support and confidence the City Council has shown in selecting me as city attorney,” Perrodin said.
Perrodin is a lifelong resident of Compton. He started his career in the city’s park’s and recreation department, and once served as chairman of the Personnel Commission. He served with the Compton Police Department from 1983 to 1995 and served as the president of the police union.
After completing law school, he became a deputy district attorney in 1995, and was elected mayor in 2001, defeating incumbent Mayor Omar Bradley, and winning re-election in 2005 and 2009. He has the distinction of being Compton’s longest-serving mayor.
He was defeated by Aja Brown in 2013 after an expose surfaced regarding the city’s finances and his desire to re-establish the Compton Police Department.
Perrodin replaces former City Attorney Damon Brown, who was appointed to the position in 2019, after Craig Cornwell vacated the seat to become city manager.
Brown tendered his resignation during the Oct. 12 meeting, with the city declaring the seat vacant.
Mayor Emma Sharif made the motion to appoint Perrodin, which was seconded by Councilwoman Michelle Chambers.
“I am proud of the council’s appointment of Eric Perrodin to the position of city attorney,” Sharif said. “Eric’s appointment was a key step for us to build and maintain a strong team at City Hall. As a past mayor himself, he knows this city well and I am confident that he will carry out this new role with integrity and dedication to public service.”
Councilmen Jonathan Bowers and Isaac Galvan abstained.
Galvan said he wanted there to be an open process to allow others to apply.
“I wish the city would have made the process more transparent, and allowed for people to apply just like we have done for other elected seats in years past,” he said. “I have nothing against the appointment of Eric Perrodin, seeing that I’ve never met him, but since he was successful, I’m looking forward to working with him and making his transition as smooth as possible.”
Bowers also was concerned the previous attempt to appoint Perrodin, on Oct. 12, was done without the item being properly agendized.
“It just doesn’t appear to be above board,” Bowers said. “It wasn’t put out to the public to give others time to apply. When you apply for a commission, there are deadlines to submit.”
Sharif clarified her position wanting to appoint Perrodin.
“I want to address when people say the item just ‘popped’ up on the agenda, nothing just ‘pops up’, it was on there for discussion, and council was asked to put forth names, and they didn’t,” Sharif said. “If you read the agenda it was on there for discussion.”
Perrodin’s appointment will run through 2024, when he will seek election to the post.
2 Urban Girls is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers the Compton and Inglewood areas. She can be reached at 2urbangirls@gmail.com.
