Not in the case of Alameda’s city attorney, Teresa Highsmith. She’s found herself in hot water with the city after it became public that she was seeking a second job as city attorney, this time in Barstow.
While Highsmith claims that nothing in her contract prevents her from taking a second job on a part-time basis, the City Council still took action against the option. They voted to put her on indefinite administrative leave.
From the San Francisco Chronicle:
What do breezy, bayside Alameda and arid, landlocked Barstow have in common? Nothing. Except their city attorney.
Alameda’s city attorney, Teresa Highsmith, took a job as city attorney in Barstow on Dec. 20 without quitting her six-figure-salary job in Alameda. Soon Highsmith will be collecting two paychecks.
“We were blindsided,” said Alameda City Councilwoman Lena Tam. “We’re not sure what happened. Right now we’re still in a fact-finding mode.”
Read the full article here.