The City of Santa Barbara has appointed longtime staff attorney John Doimas as the new City Attorney following a City Council vote on November 18, 2025. Doimas has served the City for more than 13 years in various legal roles.
Doimas joined the City Attorney’s Office in 2012 as a deputy city attorney before being promoted to assistant city attorney in 2017. During his tenure, he has advised on major legal matters and contributed to several policy-development efforts.
According to the City, he has helped craft key ordinances, guided complex investigations, and supported the creation of the Civilian Oversight Commission. Besides this, he has also contributed to the strengthening of housing safety through receivership and unfair competition actions aimed at improving living conditions for residents. He has worked towards transparency and community safety…