August 7, 1998
By Paula Story
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Gregory Vega, who has worked as a prosecutor in the U.S. attorney's office in San Diego for the past 11 years, was recommended Friday by U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer to head the office.
Vega, 44, said Boxer, a California Democrat, called him at work with the news late Friday morning that she had selected him for the top federal law enforcement position in San Diego and Imperial counties.
``I had no idea,'' Vega said. ``I'm just so pleased and honored.''
Vega, an assistant U.S. attorney, will replace Alan Bersin, who left the job July 1 to become superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District.
Vega hesitated to discuss plans he has for the post, saying only that now he will focus on the confirmation process.
``I think the senator's recommendation is being very well-received by the (U.S. attorney's) office and I think it has been very well-received by the judges,'' Vega said.
Vega will go through an extensive background check with the Justice Department. Then, President Clinton has the choice of forwarding Vega's name to the Republican-controlled Senate for consideration, said Boxer's Chief of Staff, Sam Chapman.
``He has a combination of qualities that make him the best person to lead the U.S. attorney's office at this time,'' Boxer said in a statement.
``He is well-grounded in the region, having served there for many years. He knows the people and the problems of the Southern District through years of personal involvement,'' she said.
The U.S. attorney's office handles federal prosecutions, including border crimes, and civil cases involving such areas as civil rights and the environment.
During his tenure, Bersin was the target of much criticism with his dual role as U.S. attorney and his appointment by U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno as ``border czar,'' leading a federal government crackdown on illegal immigration and drug smuggling across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Vega, who is president of the Hispanic National Bar Association, said he believes he is a good candidate for the job not only because of his experience as a prosecutor, but because he can relate to those who live in Southern California.
``I think that because we are in such a diverse geographical area, that being a Hispanic, I do bring that unique attribute to the position,'' he said.
Boxer and others said Vega was not chosen because of his heritage but because of his reputation.
``We certainly know that he is strongly supported by members and leaders in the Hispanic community,'' Chapman said. ``But he was selected because the senator believes that he is an excellent prosecutor and an excellent crime fighter.''
Vega beat out at least four other applicants.
They include Charles La Bella, who led the federal government's investigation into alleged improprieties in the Democratic Party's fund-raising activities. La Bella is serving as interim U.S. attorney in San Diego at Reno's designation.
Others include James Brannigan and Anne Perry, San Diego assistant U.S. attorneys in the office's general crimes section and Thomas Warwick, a longtime San Diego defense lawyer.
Two of Boxer's past choices for San Diego's federal court bench withdrew their names after running into problems during the Senate confirmation process.
The process could become further politicized because Boxer is running for re-election in November.
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