Brad McGirr, Neighbor

Mr. McGirr was born in Los Angeles, California and has resided in Rancho Santa Margarita since 1986. In 1988, he and his wife Julie enjoyed their first date in RSM; a picnic at the lake. Brad and Julie married in 1990, and have raised their three children in RSM.

After working as a recording engineer in Los Angeles, Mr. McGirr subsequently received his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton in 1982, majoring in Geography with an emphasis on City Planning and Land Use Analysis. While employed as a Contracts and Legislative Analyst for Pacific Life, he attended Western State University College of Law, earning a Juris Doctor Degree in 1985 with Scholastic Merit. Mr. McGirr was a Law Review Editorial Board member, was named to the Dean's Honor Roll, and was a recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award. He was thereafter admitted to the California State Bar and the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Following law school, Mr. McGirr worked with the Special Olympics of Southern California, Big Brothers of Orange County and the Saddleback Valley YMCA. He also campaigned against the initiative to place an international airport at the former El Toro Marine Base.

Mr. McGirr devoted over 15 years coaching youth sports in Rancho Santa Margarita; donating his time and energies to Tijeras Creek Little League, Rancho Santa Margarita Little League, AYSO, Saddleback Valley YMCA, National Junior Basketball and SVUSD Recreational and Community Services.

In 1990, Mr. McGirr joined the law firm of LaFollette, Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler & Ames and subsequently became a Shareholder and a member of the firm's Board of Directors. He has been responsible for all aspects of civil, trial and appellate practice and has tried or arbitrated numerous cases over the years. He has also served as a Pro Tem Judge for the Superior Court of Orange County, and as a court appointed Arbitrator and Mediator.

Mr. McGirr holds the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating for professional achievement and ethical standards, and has been a member of the American Bar Association, the Orange County Bar Association, the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, the American Inns of Court and the Defense Research Institute. Annually from 2012 through 2020, Mr. McGirr received the prestigious “Super Lawyers” designation, a title reserved for those who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

In 2010, Mr. McGirr was appointed to the RSM Planning Commission and was subsequently elected to the City Council in 2012. After serving as Mayor Pro Tem in 2014, Mr. McGirr served as Mayor of Rancho Santa Margarita in 2015.

During Mr. McGirr's term as mayor, Rancho Santa Margarita was once again noted to be one of the safest cities in the United States and was noted to be one of the best cities in California in which to raise a family. With the assistance of the Bell Tower Foundation, Mr. McGirr also implemented the ZeroTrash RSM program as well as initiatives intended to curb bullying and cyberbullying in schools. Financial reserves continued to climb, allowing for the implementation of multiple capital improvement projects designed to improve public safety, business development and the further beautification of Rancho Santa Margarita.

Mr. McGirr currently serves as the Mayor of Rancho Santa Margarita and continues to manage and expand the ZeroTrash program. He is a member of the South Orange County Watershed Management Area Executive Committee and has served on the OC Library Advisory Committee and as a member of the Community Associations of Rancho (CAR).