CHULA VISTA - A dead man is elected to the office of City Attorney for Chula Vista.
After election results were certified Thursday, the late Simon Silva, who had served as a Deputy City Attorney for Chula Vista, came out on top in the City Attorney's race, beating out challenger Dan Smith by just over 750 votes.
Silva, a Marine Corps veteran and reserve Sheriff's Deputy, died in September after a battle with cancer and by then it was too late to take his name off the ballot. NBC 7 reports Chula Vista leaders will have to declare Silva's seat vacant and hold a special election to fill it at an estimated cost of about $2 Million.
In this undated photo, the late Simon Silva appears in front of Chula Vista City Hall.
Photo: Silva Family