The Santa Monica City Council voted at their 2/298 meeting night to appoint Heidi von Tongeln as the city’s permanent city attorney, elevating her from the interim role she has held since last year. Contract details were just worked out earlier this week prompting the city’s announcement.
Von Tongeln, a longtime member of the city’s legal team, had been serving as interim city attorney since August 2025 following the departure of former City Attorney Doug Sloan. She joined the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office in 2012 and was promoted to chief deputy city attorney in 2022, overseeing major litigation and advising city boards and commissions on legal matters.
With nearly two decades of municipal law experience, von Tongeln has played a central role in representing the city in both litigation and transactional matters while providing legal guidance to elected officials and city departments. Prior to joining Santa Monica, she worked as a deputy city attorney for several municipalities and served as assistant legal counsel to redevelopment agencies, joint powers authorities and special districts with the law firm Green, de Bortnowsky & Quintanilla.
The City Attorney’s Office advises the City Council and city departments on legal issues, drafts local laws, prosecutes misdemeanor violations of local and state law within city limits, and represents the city in civil lawsuits.
Von Tongeln holds bachelor’s degrees in English and French from Pepperdine University and a law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law.
Her appointment makes permanent the leadership transition that began last year and places a veteran member of the office at the helm of the department responsible for advising city leaders and defending Santa Monica’s legal interests.
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