What Would Goldsmith Do?

This dust-up over the Wall Street Journal’s implied endorsement of City Attorney Mike Aguirre has led to more focus on a broader question in the race: What would challenger Jan Goldsmith do with Aguirre’s famous pension lawsuit?

The landmark case of Aguirre’s first term — in which he is asking the court to revoke hundreds of millions of dollars in employee benefits — has so far found defeat in the courtroom and is currently being appealed.

I asked Goldsmith yesterday what he would do with the lawsuit if elected. Would he kill it outright? Would he continue fighting it?

Goldsmith told me that if the appeal is still pending and he is elected city attorney, he will do a cost-benefit analysis on the pros and cons of continuing with the case and take it to the City Council. “We’d consult with the client,” he said.

The Superior Court judge said a lot of resources have already been expended on the case. “I’ve always said it would be a good idea to have some resolution,” Goldsmith said.

— ANDREW DONOHUE